Rx: Salt is actually good for you!

Yup, sea salt that is. My doctor advised to take at least 3 tsp daily in water.  Sad to say, it is not easy to find sea salt here in Manila. What's sold in supermarkets including the wet markets is iodized salt.

As a side note:  in December 1995, then President Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) passed Republic Act 8172 or the ASIN Law to prevent iodine deficiency disorder (IDD). At that time, it was the leading cause of mental and physical retardation, including stunting and goiter. World Health Organization said that IDD "can start before birth, jeopardize children's mental health and often their very survival."

Anyway, the benefits of taking sea salt  are:  (dissolved in water) it reduces blood pressure, helps in the elimination of toxins and regulates PH balance; (when bathing) gives an antiseptic effect to the skin and may reduce histamine that causes inflammation and itching sensation; (in a diffuser) helps in relieving congestion and/or asthma (trivia: salt has been known as the first antibiotic); (and under the tongue) stops persistent dry cough.

Best of all, sea salt is apparently a natural hypnotic and helps aid sleep.  Before going to bed, drink a full glass of water  and put a few grains of salt under the tongue. You will feel sleepy within an hour.

I know that some of you may say that salt is salt and the chemical property is sodium chloride (NaCl).  Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky said that the differences between sea salt and table salt are in the taste, texture and processing. She said sea salt is produced through evaporation of sea water, usually with little processing; while table salt is mined from underground salt deposits.. and thus, "more heavily processed to eliminate minerals and usually contains an additive to prevent clumping."

So there! I now use sea salt as my homeopathic remedy for everything!  I get my supply from my doctor (which is sourced from Pangasinan) and when she runs out, I get in Rituals (at The Collective on Malunggay St.). For those who still believe in IDD, try eating foods that are loaded with iodine like saltwater fish, squids, shrimps, crabs, seaweeds (kelp, arame, hiziki, kombu and wakame), even cranberries and strawberries!