Four specialty salts

Four specialty salts that can change your health for the better 

With depleted soils and environmental toxins, consuming a mineral-rich diet is much more taxing now than in the past. Even when the diet is 100 percent organic, ensuring the proper level of nutrients can be difficult. Natural, unprocessed salt can help balance the odds in your favor. Brimming with essential trace elements, these salts are not only delicious but also exceptionally nourishing.

Salt varieties and benefits

Have a look at the four unique salts highlighted below and learn how this small addition can have a big impact on health.

Natural gray sea salt - Supplying all 92 trace minerals, this salt promotes alkalinity, improves digestion, encourages resistance to infections and alleviates skin diseases as well as allergies. Sun-dried and unprocessed, gray sea salt retains all its health-giving nutrients. Harvested by expert salt makers, it's collected with wooden hand tools from pristine salt flats rich in clay. Since the clay ionizes the minerals, electrolytes are enhanced.

Hawaiian red volcanic salt - Containing more than 80 minerals, this is one of the most nutrient-dense salts around. Also known as alaea, its pinkish color is due to a high content of red volcanic clay. It is also unrefined and solar evaporated. Hawaiians believe that the salt is exceptionally healing and detoxifying, and it has been historically used in ceremonial and purification practices.

Black Indian salt - Ranging in color from dark pink to deep violet, black Indian salt has a strong sulfur odor and flavor when in its raw state. Used extensively in Ayurveda and Indian cooking, this salt is useful for detoxification and lends a distinct taste to food.

Himalayan pink crystal salt - Extracted from ancient sea bed deposits that are roughly 250 million years old, this is an extremely pristine salt variety. Considered a full-spectrum salt, it contains an impressive 84 minerals and sports a beautiful light rose color. The minerals are in colloidal form, making it easy for cells to utilize the nutrients. Himalayan salt also has a mild taste that won't overwhelm food. It's an excellent preparedness item, since it stores indefinitely and provides essential nourishment.

Additionally, unprocessed mineral-rich salt improves:

• Blood sugar levels

• Kidney and gall bladder health

• Libido

• Absorption of nutrients

• Respiratory function

• Sleep quality

• Vascular health

• Alkalinity

Uses

Full-spectrum salt can be used both internally and externally, depending on the purpose. For cooking, it's best to use as a finishing salt when the meal is ready to serve, which helps protect the salt from damage. An exception is with black Indian salt - it should always be used during the cooking process and not after. Himalayan cookware grade salt blocks are another option. Used on a gas range, food is cooked on the smooth surface, infusing the meal with trace minerals and flavor.

Externally, salt can be utilized as a scrub to clarify and polish the skin, as well as to stimulate the lymphatic system. Likewise, dissolving 1 cup of salt along with 2 cups of baking soda in a warm bath will create a detoxifying soak.

A more therapeutic approach is found with sole, which is unprocessed salt dissolved in water. One of the many uses of sole is for nasal irrigation - a technique which helps defend against bacterial and viral infections, allergies and sleep apnea. Complete instructions for making and using sole can be found here.