Most commercial refined salt has been harvested mechanically from various salt mines as brine. Brine is a highly concentrated solution of water and salt. Prior to mechanical evaporation, the brine is often treated with chemicals to remove minerals (which are sold for use in industry). The minerals are referred to as “impurities” in salt. (Brownstein, D)
Here are the frightening facts: Up to 2% of food grade salt may contain anti-caking agent, free flowing, or conditioning agents. These agents are the following:
Sodium Ferrocyanide: is a chemical additive known as E 535. It is used as a stabilizer for the coating on welding rods. When combined with iron, it converts to a deep blue pigment called Prussian blue. In the petroleum industry, it is used for removal of mercaptans. (Ethyl Mercaptan may damage the liver and kidneys. * Repeated or long term exposure to
Ethyl Mercaptan may damage the red blood cells causing anemia)
Ammonium Citrate: As a food additive, where it has the E number E381, and is used as an acidity regulator.
Aluminum Silcate: is widely used in food as an anticaking agent. It can be used in many different food products to prevent clumping
The final purity of food-grade salt is between 99.7 and 99.95% “pure”. Pure only refers to sodium and chloride content. The other impurities including healthy minerals and elements, have been removed from refined salt.
When salt is refined and has been heated to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, any nutritional content has been stripped, at the same time 2% of the items listed above, change the structure, resulting in our lymphatic system & rest of our body, not being able to process and digest properly. It acts as a foreign substance in a nutshell. It requires our bodies to work 2x as hard to dilute the foreign substances, which at times make your blood pressure to rise!
Salt is a necessity and part of life, the difference is, unrefined salt has benefits and actually regulates blood pressure. The benefits are the minerals, that remain, since the salt was not altered or heated to strip of the minerals. Not having an adequate amount of salt, can be dangerous, as low-salt diets can lead to mineral deficiencies, which I will cover in my next blog. Salt your way to health, using our Himalayan Salt, Celtic Salt or Redmond Salt, among others that are true unrefined salts!
These statements have not been approved by the FDA!