Sea salt: benefits and harms

Any salt on the planet is a derivative of sea water, so the separation of the types of product is only a matter of grade and method of mineral extraction. The most depleted type of salt for useful compounds is considered stone. It retains only the base of the salt component - sodium chloride, but the other important elements inherent in a more recent, evaporated product are completely absent.

Composition

Sea salt contains more than a hundred different elements combined in complex and simple chemical chains. A single formula for the chemical composition of the salt does not exist, because in the formation of a mineral it takes a large number of external, independent factors that bring unique nuances to the ingredient set of the product.

However, there is a limited list of stable substances that are somehow present in any form of evaporated sea salt:

• sodium - is involved in metabolic processes;
• potassium - supports the cardiovascular system;
• calcium - is responsible for the structural characteristics of the skeletal system and for tissue regeneration;
• magnesium - reduces the body's sensitivity to allergens;
• iron - regulates the number of red blood cells;
• iodine - is responsible for the functionality of the thyroid gland and hormonal balance;
• Manganese - a natural immunostimulant;
• zinc - supports the production of sex hormones;
• silicon - slows down the aging process of the skin;
• selenium - prevents the development of tumors;
• bromine - relieves nervous excitement.

Real sea salt cannot have a pure white color - this will indicate a multi-stage chemical treatment using bleaching reagents, which is unacceptable. The standard color of the simplest type of natural product is gray, with a splash of darker or lighter particles.

Types of Edible Salt

Absolutely any field or point of extraction of sea salt boasts a unique product, which has no analogue. That is why, despite the apparent similarity of the process of mineral formation and subsequent manipulations on its evaporation, cleaning and grinding, there are so many completely different varieties:

• Terre de Sel - French salt, giving a slight sour note. Processing of this product is minimal - literally one drying, so the mineral is appreciated by gourmets for its natural taste and high useful qualities.
• Maldonskaya is a very crumbly and light product with a high flavor concentration.
• Rosé is an iron-rich and therefore soft pink mineral that belongs to the rocky appearance of sea salt. Rosé deposits are located in Bolivia, and they are about 3000 centuries old.
• Himalayan salt, otherwise called Pakistani, is one of the most expensive and rare varieties in the world, which can be recognized by its rich scarlet color.
• Hawaiian red and Hawaiian black - have a color corresponding to the name, but the origin of both types of salt is the same - mining from places of formation of lava.
• Persian is the only salt on the planet that has a blue color and is valued for its unique taste. It is used in the preparation of very expensive dishes.

To be sure of the quality of the product, it is better to buy sea salt in specialized stores or in a pharmacy. Be sure to consider the inscription on the packaging before use - for what purpose the product is intended, food or cosmetic (medical).

Sea salt baths

For these purposes, it is used in large volumes - at least 150 g per 80-90 liters of water (half of a standard bath). Therefore, before immersing in such a concentrated solution, you should make sure that there are no contraindications to the procedure. Specifically for women, this is the state of pregnancy and menstruation, and the ban list for both sexes indicates:

• open form of tuberculosis;
• acute infectious diseases;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• ulcer and gastritis;
• oncological diseases.

If there are no direct contraindications for baths with sea salt, then you can prepare one of the compounds recommended in cosmetology, which includes a “base”, that is, ¾ cup of a mineral product, and additional components: decoctions of herbs suitable for the skin type, essential oils, cosmetic clay.

The “Hollywood baths” or “Aphrodite baths” are popular, which, in addition to salt, include a package of dry kelp, or spirulina (algae), half a glass of liquid honey and 1-2 glasses of fat milk. Procedures should be carried out in courses of 10-15 baths every other day.

It is important to observe the immersion temperature - up to 40 ⁰ , and the residence time in the active solution - from 10 to 20 minutes. After taking a bath for 3 hours you can not go out, drink cold drinks, apply aromatic compositions to the body.

Within a month from the start of the procedures, tired and loose skin will tighten, the number of wrinkles and inflammatory foci will be reduced. Such baths are good for acne, psoriasis, postpartum stretch marks. In parallel, there will be a strengthening of nails and a relief of symptoms in joint diseases.

For leg health

A solution of sea salt for legs eliminates several problems at once - depending on the method of application of the concentrated product:

• 10% saline solution is used topically, in the form of compresses on the affected areas of the body with dermatitis or trophic ulcers, often resulting from diabetes mellitus;
• Gauze dressings are impregnated with a 30% solution for varicose veins and edema - such lotions should be fixed on problem areas all night;
• warm baths with sea salt of 5% concentration, relax, relieve stress, eliminate unpleasant odors and reduce sweating of the feet.

To enhance the effect, in case of circulatory disorders in the lower extremities, it is recommended from time to time to do foot massage with coarse sea salt. To do this, take a handful of salt, rub it in the palms with a small amount of honey and gently massage the feet with an abrasive mass. The procedure must be done before bedtime, be sure to complete it with a fatty nourishing cream for the feet.

Dental care

For additional care for the condition of the teeth, they use edible sea salt of the finest grinding. Solutions and mixtures with minerals are suitable for periodic sanitation of the oral cavity, however, trying to use them as a treatment for infectious lesions of the teeth and gums (abscess, gingivitis, caries) is irrational and threatens to worsen the condition.

The easiest way to use salt in oral hygiene is to stimulate blood circulation in the gums with a semi-liquid paste of 2 parts of salt and 1 part of tea tree oil. The mass of the finger is applied to the surface of the gums for 15-20 minutes before evening brushing, then, for a minute, gently massage the mucous membrane and rinse the mouth well with warm water.

To whiten teeth, remove tobacco plaque and prevent the formation of tartar, multicomponent compositions are used:

• Whitening paste - take half a teaspoon: fine sea salt, soda (slaked with 2-3 drops of 3% peroxide) and turmeric. Add 3 tablespoons of pharmacy alum and dilute the mixture with a small amount of olive oil. Homemade toothpaste is applied to the teeth, as usual, but not more than twice a week.
• A solution with sea salt for daily mouthwash - 0.5 cups of warm water is diluted with the same amount of filtered broth of chamomile or oak bark, a full teaspoon of salt is added and the liquid is well mixed until the crystals dissolve. The resulting solution rinse the mouth before bedtime or as necessary.

Ready-made products with marine minerals for teeth exist on the market, however, the concentration of active substances in them is too low and cannot serve as a worthy alternative to home preparations.

Beauty recipes

The effect of sea salt on the skin of the face can be called aggressive, since any peeling or mask with this component literally “eats” the upper keratinized layer of the epidermis. It is better for girls with dry skin to exclude the mineral from their list of care products, and owners of problem skin, on the contrary, need to do deep salt cleansing of pores at least once a week.

Top five popular cosmetic masks with sea salt at home:

• Whitening - grind together 2 teaspoons of unsweetened cream and soft cottage cheese, add the same amount of finely ground salt. The homogeneous mass should be spread over the face and left for five minutes, then moisten your hands in warm water and massage the entire treated surface thoroughly in circular movements from the bottom up. Rinse off with water at room temperature.
• Scrub mask - mix in a large pinch of fine salt and coffee grounds and dilute the dry mixture with 1 teaspoon of cosmetic milk. The mask should first be massaged into the skin, and then lie calmly with it for 3-5 minutes, then rinse with plenty of water.
• Cleansing - beat the cooled egg white until a stable foam, pour 1 teaspoon of sea salt and spread the mixture over the face. After 15 minutes, the mask must be washed off.
• Anti-aging - take only 0.5 tsp: fine salt, potato starch, liquid honey. Mix the components and apply a mask with a brush for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off the dried mixture first with warm and then cold water.
• Anti-acne - moisten a bar of baby soap without perfumes and beat foam on it with a shaving brush. Scoop more of this foam onto a cotton pad, sprinkle a pinch of salt on top and, until the foam has settled, spread the soap mixture over the skin of the face with light massage movements. After 1-3 minutes, you need to wash with acidified water.

All procedures with sodium chloride as the main ingredient are aimed at a disinfecting, stimulating and regenerative effect. A side effect of the process can be called a burning sensation of the skin. If it becomes too strong, you should reduce the time of the procedure or next time reduce the concentration of salt in the composition of the finished mixture.

Application for ENT diseases

Saline solution obtained from water with the addition of sea salt is an almost absolute analogue of modern nasal sprays and drops, which have no contraindications and age restrictions. Doctors do not recommend the use of solutions with sea salt to wash healthy mucous membranes, since such prevention can be detrimental to the natural microflora that moisturize the inner walls of the nasal cavity. However, with diagnosed diseases - rhinitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis - it is better to use a freshly prepared home solution than spend money on expensive pharmacy counterparts.

Focusing on the degree of nasal congestion and the level of risk of complications, it is recommended to prepare one type of solution from three:

• Low concentration. Indications: mild catarrh, runny nose, mild allergic rhinitis. Take 0.5 teaspoons of salt in a glass of warm water and use the ready-made solution for washing an adult or a child after 3 years old and for instilling in children of unfortunate age.
• The average concentration. Indications: advanced rhinitis and allergic colds, prevention of sinusitis. Take 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and use a solution for children from 7 years old and adults.
• Strong concentration. Indications: sinusitis, adenoids. Put 2 teaspoons of salt in a glass of warm water and add 1-2 drops of iodine. The product is not suitable for children under 12 years of age and adults with weak nasal mucosa.

Pregnant women, young children and the elderly (over 60) are allowed to use nose solutions with sea salt, only the lowest concentration. The finished mixture is stored for about two days. Before use, the liquid must be heated to 28-33 ⁰ C.

Use for weight loss

In reducing weight, sea salt has auxiliary functions, since the mineral itself does not affect extra pounds. The action of sodium chloride ensures the maintenance of the skin during a rapid weight loss: it accelerates cellular metabolism, enhances oxygen nutrition at the cellular level, saturates tissues with useful substances, stimulates blood flow in the upper layer of the epidermis.

Methods of using the marine mineral for weight loss are divided into passive (body wraps, baths) and active (massages, peels, drinking solutions):

• Bathtubs. For 100 l of water (2/3 of the filling of a standard bath), 350-450 g of salt, 0.5 packs of soda and two glasses of a steep broth of medicinal herbs suitable for the skin type are taken. The full course is 12-14 procedures every other day, the time of each procedure is 10-15 minutes. Take a bath should be an hour and a half before the main meal.
• Wraps. Wraps work best on warm, clean skin after a bath or intensive massage. A handful of sea salt is mixed with 2 tbsp. tablespoons of warm honey and 5-7 drops of almond (nut) oil. The paste is quickly applied by rubbing with strong movements on the problem area and tightly fit the treated areas of the body with ordinary cling film. The exposure time of the salt compress is 40 minutes, after which the paste is washed off under a warm shower. In total, 10-14 procedures are required.
• Massage + scrubbing. The most effective procedure aimed at a strong anti-cellulite effect and epidermal renewal. Manipulations are recommended to be carried out after taking a hot bath or wraps, and the abrasive mass is formed based on the needs of the target result. The basic basis is sea salt, according to women - one of the best natural abrasives. Auxiliary elements are: honey, shower gels, natural juices (pomegranate, lemon, etc.), cosmetic oils.

When used as a drinking solution, the benefits and harms of sea salt for the body can be equivalent. Since the solution is drunk on an empty stomach, all chronic and acute diseases of the digestive tract, swelling, and diseases of the adrenal glands will become a contraindication to the procedures.

Bowel cleansing

The technique of forced bowel movement through the drinking of large quantities of salt water is a popular yogic technique for treating “from a hundred diseases”. Actually, the essence of the method is reduced to periodically (once every 2-3 months) scrubbing of the rectum, after which the whole indicated period the body copes with self-cleaning much easier and better perceives any types of treatment and diets.

By the very “X-day” they are preparing in advance - already for three days, fatty foods (pork, sausages, smoked meats) are excluded from the menu, in two days - confectionery sweets, heavy food. On the eve of the procedure, or rather, for 12-16 hours, it is allowed to eat only light, better - vegetarian soups, fresh and boiled vegetables, fruits.

In the morning of the appointed day, a saline solution is prepared - 3 teaspoons of sea salt are taken on a one and a half liter jar of purified heated water and the entire volume of the resulting solution is divided into 6 portions - each in a glass. According to the technology of the method, the patient must drink one portion of salt water every hour, then, over the next 30 minutes, perform a set of exercises aimed at improving intestinal motility - these are different inclinations, lying and sitting exercises, pelvic rotation and back and abdominal muscle tension.

Due to the constant stimulation of the rectum and the provocation of peristalsis, the entire period of cleansing procedures will be accompanied by numerous acts of defecation. Normally, after the sixth drunk glass, it is possible to get out of the intestine of clean, unclouded fecal water. If this happens, the cleansing can be considered completed, and return to it should not be earlier than two months later.

Harmful sea salt

The benefits of sea salt in the diet or medical and cosmetic procedures can be discussed if the following factors are absent in the patient’s history:

• open form of tuberculosis;
• hypertension;
• chronic and acute kidney and liver diseases;
• untreated infectious diseases;
• sexually transmitted diseases.

Particular attention and a preliminary assessment of the state of health require cases when it is supposed to carry out a course of treatment with sea salt, when consumed orally in large quantities. In addition, it should be borne in mind that the mineral itself, in the opinion of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, is a highly carcinogenic product, which, if used improperly and overstated the dose, can cause the development of benign tumors.