THE NEED TO EAT SEAWEED: SALT CONTROVERSY
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Iodised Salt, a bad solution!
Iodised Salt, a bad solution!
It has been assumed that with the implementation of the iodisation of salt, iodine deficiency disorders would be a thing of the past. But poor bio-availability of iodine in salt and declining salt intake by the population have set the stage for widespread iodine deficiency. Read on to understand why this is happening.
Some may think that the use of iodised salt has eliminated iodine deficiency; however studies done in the USA show that iodine levels have dropped significantly (50%) in all demographic categories in the US – how is this possible ? The National Health and Nutrition Examination studied data that spanned over the last 30 years.
Read about the US data on iodine levels.
Read about the US data on iodine levels.
It has been assumed that, with the implementation of the iodisation of salt, iodine deficiency disorders would be a thing of the past; but poor bio-availability of iodine in salt (Research on bio-availability of iodide in salt in 1969 suggests that iodised salt is only 10% bio-available) and declining salt intake by the population (low salt diets) have set the stage for widespread iodine deficiency. In addition, the compound used to iodise the salt, potassium iodide, only partly satisfies the iodine requirements of the body. Different body tissues are able to assimilate iodine in varying forms; consequently, using a supplement that contains both iodide & iodine is preferable. Iodized salt makes iodine available to the body in only one form, so is of limited use in filling the body’s requirements.
The purpose of adding iodine to salt is to achieve a ‘Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)’ for iodine. The values framed by the RDA system were decided upon based on the prevention of goiter; however, these values are inadequate in providing enough iodine to the body to promote optimal thyroid, endocrine and immune system functioning. Furthermore, it has been found that the iodine values set forth by the RDA system are inadequate in acting towards the prevention of cancer in the body. Check here to find out the RDA for iodine in NZ: http://www.nutritionfoundation.org.nz/nutrition-facts/minerals/iodine
Another aspect of the question lies in developing an understanding of the effects of eating refined salt – even iodised refined salt. If the salt is refined to remove impurities or give it a better appearance, most of the mineral elements are gone. Equally important is the addition of chemical additives to bleach it and make it flow better. The processes resulting these features compromise the body’s ability to absorb and process the treated salt, leading to joint problems and lower effectiveness of body functions.
Salt is vital for the survival of all living creatures. Like fat, salt is often misunderstood. Both are nutrients that are essential to health, but not all forms of them are healthy. Water and salt regulate the water content of the body. There are two oceans of water inside the body – one held inside the cells, and the other outside the cells. Good health depends on a most delicate balance between the volume of these oceans, and this balance is achieved by natural, unrefined salt.
The composition of our blood and the other fluids in our bodies have an amazing similarity to seawater. It is for this reason that natural unrefined Sea Salt is so good for us. Sea Salt is naturally available in the perfect mineral balance required to complement the chemical and mineral composition of our bodies. It is available in a chemically natural form (chelated), which makes it easy to metabolize by the human body. Scientists think that 24 of these mineral elements are essential to life. It is believed that it is the proper balance of these elements in our bodies that is necessary to good health. Whenever a deficiency of one or many of these minerals occur, the regenerating power of the cells is affected. These deficiencies and the resulting impact on cell function and reproduction manifest themselves as illnesses that are often hard to pinpoint or correct.
Many of us crave salt because our bodies crave the missing elements which are absent from the refined salt. Many of the missing elements are needed only in minute quantities (trace) but their absence is thought to contribute to many of today’s illnesses.
According to Dr. Jacques Langre, Ph.D. who wrote the book “Seasalt’s Hidden Powers”, unrefined salt is thought to have incredible positive effects on the body’s functions. In conjunction with water, salt is essential to the regulation of blood pressure, and plays a vital role in the extraction of excess acidity in the body, in the balancing of sugar levels in the blood, and in the absorption of food by the intestinal tract. It plays a key part in clearing the respiratory system of mucus, and is vital to the nerve cells ability to communicate and to the brain. Salt is also strong natural antihistamine, is essential in the prevention of muscle cramps, and plays a key role in sleep regulation. Twenty-seven percent of the body’s salt is in the bones – it is vital to structural integrity of skeletal tissue.
One of the difficulties is that natural sea salt has been found to be too weak in iodine to provide any substantial supplementation to our diet; but iodine is naturally plentiful in sea vegetables/seaweed.
Click on the link to find out why iodine is important.
Click on the link to find out why iodine is important.
Pacific Harvest produces ‘Kelp Salt’, which combines the many health benefits of natural sea salt with those of kelp seaweed. Kelp Salt is a natural sea salt using iodine naturally occurring in kelp to produce a ‘naturally iodised natural sea salt’. Its strong mineral taste is satisfying, therefore requiring a smaller amount to get the salty taste.
Click on the link to read more about Kelp Salt.
Click on the link to read more about Kelp Salt.
Resources:
Sumber :http://www.pacificharvest.co.nz/news/salt-controversy/
