On salt
Updated: Nov 3, 2021
It's only fitting that, as makers of natural bath and body care products with a salty twist, we love salt around here. But unfortunately, like the brilliant uncle who sits alone at parties because no one can figure out whether there's something a little off about him, salt remains misunderstood by many. So let's do a little free-association here, and write down some of the things we think about salt.
Misconceptions about salt
Oh poor salt! Before refrigeration, it preserved most foods unless you lived above the snow line. But it's been demonized in recent years because we think...
salt is bad for you
salt is in everything
salt causes high blood pressure
salt causes water retention
salt dries out your skin and dehydrates you
salt is rough and irritating
salt makes wounds hurt and sting
Okaaaayyyy. I'm almost in tears. Let's talk about these and see if there's truth to them.
The truth about salt
Before I go on, I think it's important to include a little caveat about moderation here: of course, salt is bad for you in excess, that is why we don't drink seawater. So is everything else, though. Chug enough dairy and you'll gain weight and disrupt your gut flora, consume enough wine and...well, we all know what happens. To examine salt we have to first examine what it does it in the body: sodium is used by the body to maintain fluid levels and regulate nerve and muscle function. Remember the sodium channels in Anatomy? Yeah, it's a thing. Too little salt and you develop serious problems just as with too much salt.
So, we need salt, okay? It's why animals lick it and humans crave it. It's important to note though that, while salt is indeed naturally occurring in lots of foods, most of our salt comes from processed and prepared foods, which is the real reason why, as a society, we get too much; processed foods rely heavily on sodium as a seasoning.
Using salt in bath and body care products
Now this is a whole different kettle of (salt) fish: this is where the myths come in that salt is drying, irritating and so forth. That couldn't be farther from the truth, although it seems plausible because salt is so...well...salty. But consider that:
The Dead Sea is just one of several globally famous tourist destinations where people flock in droves to soak in the healing salt waters and immerse themselves in mineral-rich mud for beautification.
Mineral salts such as Epsom salts have been used for centuries to cure ailments, clean out the body, relax tense muscles and provide the body with much-needed minerals.
Doctors recommend gargling with salt water as an antiseptic to soothe sore throats and today's sterilized saline is the modern version of the salt water that has been known for thousands of years to speed wound healing.
Beauty products made of salt, particularly special salts such as Himalayan pink salt, are used all over the world to relieve common skin conditions like eczema and acne. I love this salt bar from Selsi for when you just can't soak in the tub.
Ready to try using salt on your skin?
If you are ready to try what's got to be the most fun, easy detox out there - a salt bath that will pull out toxins from the body's largest organ, your skin, while simultaneously repairing your body's mineral balance, healing minor skin conditions and making you feel all-over relaxed and wonderful - SaltZ&Co has got you covered! Most of our natural bath soaps, of course our bath salts for baths, and even our shower gels and other rinse-off products contain natural mineralized (not table!) salt. It's simply one of the very best things you can use on your skin.
What's your experience with salt in the tub? Do you have questions about what to use or how? Ask away!