Food cravings series: Gimme salt--sea salt, that is.

Why do we crave salt?

Salt is a mineral that everybody needs. Sometimes people crave salt not because they don't eat enough salty foods but because of a mineral deficiency (Rosenthal, 2008).

* Salt from the sea contains over 60 different trace minerals. However, most people who consume salty foods get their sodium in the form of table salt. Because table salt is refined and processed, it lacks many of the essential minerals that are found in naturally occurring sea salt.

* On top of this fact, because people's diets are already missing nutrients and minerals (from all of the overprocessing of our foods), people will reach for salty foods. Unfortunately because of the quality of sodium found in most processed foods, people will never attain their mineral fix and will continue to grab for those salty foods that will never nourish the body. A perpetual cycle begins where the body craves nourishment and nutrition but only feeds itself nutrient and mineral deficient foods.

What can be done?

* Reaching for foods high in minerals, like a wide variety of vegetables and leafy greens, may help curb the craving for salt (nutrition). Apparently veggies make it into yet another posting.

* Kick table salt and use sea salt instead.

Per Dr. Mercola,"natural salt is essential for life" and helps:
• allow fluids to pass in and out of your cells
• carry nutrients to your cells
• nerve cells in your brain and body to transfer information
• various metabolic reactions in your body
• regulate blood pressure

It also helps aid in mood, although, one could argue that providing minerals to a mineral deficient person may elevate mood in general.

Regardless, everyone is different; some people may need more salt than others to fulfill their bodies' needs so play around with these suggestions and see what happens.

Feel guilty about tossing out your table salt for sea salt? Don't throw it out.

Creative uses for table salt:
• Table salt can be used to get rid of ants. Just add salt to boiling water and prepare a salt solution. Now spray this salt solution in all corners of your house.
• Salt can remove kitchen odors from your hands. If your hands smell like garlic or onions, make a little paste of vinegar and salt and scrub with it (just be careful for any cuts).
• Use it in your arts and crafting; if you watercolor paint, throwing a pinch of salt can create a cool effect.
• The list continues. Just google "Uses for table salt." You will find articles like this one, among many others.