03 - Salt: Turns Out it's Not the Evil Thing We've Been Taught

THE RESILIENT PATH: Forging Your Unshakable Life

Salt requires a short, critical chapter on its own - next to water, it’s that important!

All human beings on earth would quickly perish without salt. Salt is absolutely essential for a body’s metabolism and also valuable as a source of micro-nutrients. The type of salt consumed matters. As with anything - the less it's processed, the better.

For example, true sea salt and mined white salt have some nutrients, authentic Himalayan Pink Salt has more and Celtic Salt is nutrient-rich. Believe it or not, there are many more types and sources of salts! Himalayan and Celtic are recognizable, easy to acquire in the USA and enjoyable to eat. It is all still salt, and too much of it is not good either, so use responsibly and what feels right to your body (everyone is unique). You will notice the change almost instantaneously.

While the micronutrients are important, the most important thing to understand about salt is how essential it is to the proper functioning of your core body chemistry and general wellness - in particular the sodium chloride.

There's a reason the #1 go-to solution in hospitals is a saline iv for helping improve general wellness for a physically distressed patient.

Being "salty" is literally being resilient - it is key to maximum resilience.

I don’t know about you, but for nearly all of my life I’ve been taught salt is bad, salt is bad, salt is bad.

I’ve come to find out the exact opposite is the case.

Salt is life.

There’s MUCH debate about this in institutional circles, but here’s my personal experience:

• Pickle juice cures leg cramps almost instantaneously (I’m quite sure in large part due to it’s sodium content)

• My general wellness drastically began improving when I increased my Celtic salt intake and reduced my sodium intake via the foods I eat - I sleep better, my mind is clearer and I have greater energy during the day

• I have much more stamina when I’m intensely working and re-hydrating - drinking a large glass of water and a pinch of Celtic salt mixed in

Taking the importance of salt to another level, I discovered many cultural traditions which further express its value - In numerous traditions worldwide, offering salt (often with bread) to guests represents a fundamental expression of welcome. The Russian tradition of presenting bread and salt to visitors, the Jewish custom of blessing bread with salt on Shabbat, and similar practices in Eastern European and Middle Eastern cultures all reflect this connection between salt and the sacred duty of hospitality.

I recall reading a story several years back about an expedition to the remote Russian island of Kamchatka in the 1950’s where researchers discovered a family living off the land in a remote part of the island. The family had fled the conflict in the interior of the Soviet Union during WWII. When the researchers approached the family, one of the adults from the family greeted them first with the following question – do you have any salt?

BEING RESILIENT TIP: Throughout history there are a several examples of the weaponization of salt and human beings. Store this in the back of your mind - access to quality salt is an absolute priority. One well known historical example is Ghandi and the great Salt March in India.

RESILIENT PATH INSIGHTS: 1) Acquire a few large bags of high-quality sea salt to have when the eventuality happens and you need it. It stores forever in a cool, dry place. Your knowledge, experience and access to salt will prove to be an invaluable asset! 2) If you live close to a body of salt water, it also wouldn't be a bad idea to learn and figure out how to make your own sea salt!

PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION: I enjoy this salt for daily consumption:

Here's a link to one example of a bulk salt I'd recommend to have in case of a disruption of access to salt.

If you’d like a container like this for a place to put this salt for easy access on the kitchen counter, our partner Charming Chisel can make one for you!

Next: 04: A Garden of Harsh Realities: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Feeding Your Family