Salt is a kitchen staple, but not all salts are created equal. Celtic sea salt, Himalayan salt, and table salt differ in their origin, mineral content, processing, and health benefits. Here’s a breakdown to help you choose the right salt for your needs and how salt can help you.

Salt supports detoxification of harmful chemicals. Low-salt diets impair this process and worsen toxicity from bromine, a common modern toxin.

The endocrine system functions like a symphony—when one gland is imbalanced, others suffer. Adrenal and thyroid glands are especially interdependent. Poor adrenal function impairs thyroid hormone, and thyroid issues strain adrenals. Salt intake (particularly refined vs. unrefined) plays a central role in this balance.

The adrenals also regulate sodium balance. Adequate unrefined salt supports them; refined salt depletes minerals and accelerates exhaustion.

Water and salt are inseparable partners in human physiology. The adult body is about 70% water (80% in the brain), and contains roughly 250 grams of salt. Together they drive metabolism, nutrient transport, detoxification, and optimal function of the nervous, hormonal, and immune systems.

Low-salt diets have been standard advice for decades. Magazines, medical journals, the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and government agencies routinely urge people to reduce salt intake to protect heart health and control blood pressure. Two key questions remain: Is a low-salt diet helpful? Is a low-salt diet actually healthy?

Most people assume “salt is salt.” In reality, refined table salt and unrefined natural salt differ dramatically in composition, processing, and effects on the body. Choosing the right salt supports hydration, electrolyte function, pH balance, and overall wellness while the wrong choice can contribute to deficiencies and chronic issues.

For decades, the standard medical recommendation has been clear: cut the salt. In clinical practice, strict low-sodium diets often fail to deliver meaningful, lasting blood-pressure reductions for the majority of patients, and they frequently leave people feeling fatigued, frustrated, and deprived.

Salt is essential to life, as vital as water and oxygen. Every living organism depends on it. Throughout history, salt has been treasured like gold and shaped civilizations.