REFINED salt is the salt that we see everywhere & in everything from processed foods, canned foods as well as on restaurant tables. Most people have refined salt in their homes as well. It's everywhere. THIS kind of salt should most definitely be avoided. During the processing of this salt, all the minerals are stripped from it, and bleach is added to make it white.

UNREFINED salt is completely different from refined salt. Unrefined salt contains over 80 minerals in its natural state. This is great news seeing as how minerals are so vital to the overall function of our bodies. For example, minerals maintain proper pH in the body, help the cells of the body absorb nutrients (goodbye insulin resistance), contract & relax muscles (goodbye heart disease), & so much more.

Most unrefined salts (like Celtic Sea Salt) contain high concentrations of calcium, magnesium & potassium as well as electrolytes. Having optimal levels of these minerals will aid in your body's ability to achieve optimal health, but having deficiencies will most definitely lead to issues like weight gain, insulin resistance, issues with heart health, sleep issues, adrenal fatigue, high blood pressure & so much more.

So what does all of this have to do with high blood pressure in particular?

Let's look at it like this:

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• Low magnesium leads to poor Cortisol detoxification.

• Chronically high Cortisol leads to imbalances in blood sugar as well as poor sleep patterns.

• Poor sleep patterns lead to adrenal fatigue.

• Adrenal fatigue, leads to even more imbalances in the body.

 

As you can see, mineral deficiency leads to a cascade of events.

When sodium intake is too low, the adrenals release a hormone called aldosterone. Aldosterone tells the kidneys to hold on to as much sodium as possible* (see hydration & hypertension post). This increase in sodium in the bloodstream is what leads to high blood pressure. And while drinking more water is vital for flushing the body, that alone won't help.

 

The cells need minerals. This is in no way shape or form saying to go overboard with unrefined salt either, but it is important to note that the body does need sodium to proper mineral balance.

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​​​​​​​​​*The information provided in this post is for educational purposes and does not take the place of your primary physician. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any changes to medication.

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