Life without salt

Salt might be more harmful than we think, so it is important to know what amounts are safe and which type of salt is better for our health. In some cities in Mexico, salt has started to be removed from restaurant tables to encourage people to consume it in smaller amounts. This is well-founded, as an excess of salt in the diet can dangerously raise our sodium levels and retain fluids, making us feel bloated and uncomfortable throughout the day. The other side of the coin is that our body does need sodium, and we obtain 90% of our necessary daily intake from salt. Salt is necessary for our body to be adequately hydrated, participate in numerous cellular exchanges, and contribute to the balance of blood composition; despite all this, our body does not need to consume high amounts of salt. For this to happen, we only need five grams a day, but the global average is between 10 and 12 grams of daily consumption since it is difficult to quantify the salt we consume in foods that do not present it obviously. Salt consumption should be controlled from childhood. The taste for salt is acquired from a very young age and it can be educated, so if we encourage the consumption of less salty foods from childhood, in adulthood, we will make choices for foods with less salt. The simplest way to do without salt is to cook with fresh and preferably organic ingredients, as these have a much higher flavor profile than canned products. This way, we start ingesting less sodium without having to sacrifice the flavor of food. Now, whether for physiological reasons or taste, we always need to have salt in the kitchen; it is the essential seasoning in many countries around the world. The trick here is to choose a less harmful salt; our recommendation is to consume sea salt as it is more natural and its sodium percentage is lower than that of ultra-fine salt. Additionally, the flavor of sea salt is more noticeable in the dishes in which it is used, so a smaller amount can be used and still achieve the benefits.   Check out the diet section that Kiwilimón has created for you.