Once Inspired

Posts Tagged ‘nutrition’

As mentioned below, the media has suggested that salt is bad. Salt is actally vital. Certified Ironguides Coach, Jono Rumbelow explains:

“Last week I wrote about the importance of water in the diet. (http://onceinspired.co.za/trainingracing/are-you-drinking-enough/) Well lets look at one of the most controversial subjects out there today SALT. Much of what you’ve been told by mainstream media suggests that salt is an evil villain and should be avoided at all costs.

Well yes this is true if you’re talking about commercial salt. It’s been boiled at really high temperatures, bleached to make it look sparkly white, had stabilizers added to it (like most highly processed food) and even had a chemical added (in some cases I might add) to prevent it from absorbing water.

I mean it’s been well documented that the normal table salt that you and I know has had 82 of its 84 minerals extracted from it. I mean how toxic must the stuff be now. Well of course you would stay away from the stuff if you had a choice. That means the body won’t absorb it properly let alone possibly at all.

Okay so now I may have scared you senseless! Having said all this, salt is actually an imperative requirement as the human body needs a constant concentration in the blood. On top of that it is critical for digestion and brain development.  So let’s look at the benefits of the real stuff.

• It is a natural antihistamine.
• It is vital for extracting excess acidity from inside the cells.
• It is essential in the treatment of emotional and affective disorders (Lithium is a salt substitute which is used to treat depression).
• It is vital for preserving serotonin (your ‘happy hormone’) and melatonin (your sleep hormone) levels in the brain.
• It is important for maintaining muscle tone and strength (Bingo).

Each of us has ‘2 oceans’ inside our bodies. The first is located inside the cells, which is held there by potassium (the stuff that is found in vegetables and fruits so please eat them!) The second is outside the cell held there by salt. Yes you are reading this right. Each molecule ‘picks up’ a certain number of water molecules and so it is the only way to get water into the body to hydrate it effectively.

Osmotic pressure (I know really complicated word but check out the definition) exists between these two oceans and so it’s pretty important that a good balance between potassium and salt is found. If the pressure is disturbed, let’s say by you not having enough salt in your diet, the salty ocean will diminish and cause a ‘leaking’ of water from within the cells. When cells are chronically dehydrated, they become shrivelled and prune-like to a point that serious irreparable damage can occur.

When the brain is just 1% dehydrated, the alarm bells start ringing and then water is taken from ‘non-essential’ processes (which sounds a bit weird to be honest. I thought all bodily processes were essential) to ensure that vital areas are adequately supplied.

Finally if you’re concerned that you may have’ done some long-term damage, you may be in luck! It appears the damage is reversible, assuming the dehydration hasn’t gone on for too long…. (ha ha me and endurance athlete, never) then go back to my article on Hydration and start drinking but add salt to your diet.”

Thanks Jono