You need more salt! I've heard this phrase uttered almost a dozen times in the past few years since completely cutting out any and all types of processed foods. As much as today's society scolds the consumption of too much salt, and many people do eat too much salt because of poor diets, in reality, if you eat a whole foods, clean, healthy and unprocessed diet, chances are your body actually needs more salt.
I grew up in a "cooking family" where homemade food was and still is a non-negotiable. My mom's second spice cabinet (yes, there are two) is no short of a grocery store salt aisle. She has the salt for boiling pasta, coarse salt for roasting meats and veggies, medium coarse salt for cooking, pink salt, white salt, grey salt, infused salt (handmade by yours truly), salt flakes, and finally, fine salt. My own salt drawer has a wide variety as well, so it runs in the family.
The one thing all these salts have in common is their quality; You will never find a bargain table salt in our cabinets. One reason is because salt, in cooking, is on par with all other ingredients that create the flavors of a dish so there is no cheaping out. The second reason is for the salt benefits.
Good salt, real salt, is salubrious. It provides beneficial trace minerals and electrolytes (magnesium, sodium, potassium, etc), supports insulin levels, can maintain healthy blood-pressure (when BP is often too low), and so much more. (1) If you consume poor quality salt, you are not reaping any of these benefits! (2)
Many of the salts on the grocery store shelves, especially "table salt", go through a high heat processing which strips the salt of all their natural trace minerals. Many companies also add anti-caking agents, fluoride, synthetic iodine, and some, even sugar.
So next time you are shopping for salt, don't just grab any 'ol salt and throw it in your cart. Know your salt! Here are some of my favorite brands that I always have in my little salt drawer at one time or another. I use them for different purposes, so play around and see what you like with what foods. I usually put the Redmond Real Salt in my water every day and the Bitterman Salt Co flakes are excellent for dusting atop any plated dish, especially eggs or green veggies.
Click through to shop/Click on thumbnail image to enlarge.
