Salt has been under attack over the last several decades.  Many experts claim that salt will raise blood pressure and lead to long term health problems if consumed in excess.  In truth, these experts are correct, however, this is not true for all salt.

Processed table salt is an extremely toxic substance and should not be used by anyone looking to improve overall health in the body.  Most table salt has been stripped of its minerals, bleached, and heated to unnaturally high temperatures.  No where in nature do you find table salt occurring naturally.

With that said, raw unprocessed sea salt is a whole different story.  Sea salts such as Celtic are full of minerals and can offer a wide array of benefits towards the body.  To be exact, it’s estimated that unprocessed sea salt contains over 84 minerals.  These minerals are in an ionic form and easily assimilated and used by the body.  Also, unlike table salt which can raise blood pressure, unprocessed sea salt has been shown to help normalize it.

However, what benefits does sea salt have towards those dealing with candida overgrowth?  Also, how does sea salt help to combat candida growth?

Luckily, we’ve answered all these questions plus more.  By the end, you will have a better understanding as to why sea salt is so beneficial for not only those with candida overgrowth, but also for those seeking optimal health!

What is Sea Salt?

It seems basic, but many are unaware how sea salt is produced.  In fact, centuries ago, cultures around the world would travel long distances by foot just to obtain salt.  It was so highly prized that workers would be paid in salt; hence the name “salary.”

However, the way in which this magical substance is produced is fascinating.  Through careful evaporation techniques of ocean water and constant raking, sea salt will begin to form.  It could be said that sea salt is the solidified form of the oceans energy.

Quality is always of the utmost importance when dealing with sea salt.  For example, quality sea salt is not white.  Rather, sea salt should be grey in color and should be almost wet when touched.  If your sea salt does not have those properties, it’s best to find another brand that does in order to ensure quality and purity.

How Does Sea Salt Help Candida?

Have you ever noticed how bacteria hate salt?  Salt is natures perfect anti-microbial and is one of the best sterilizing agents.  It’s for this reason that salt was often used to persevere foods and prevent bacterial growth.

Consequently, sea salt has a naturally sterilizing effect in the body when consumed.  Many report almost immediate improvements in digestion after including a high quality sea salt into the diet.  This is most likely due to the fact that sea salt can help to inhibit the growth of pathogens in the gut such as candida which can cause digestive distress.

Those suffering with candida overgrowth and following a low salt diet should seriously reconsider their actions.  For one, salt is a necessary mineral in order for survival.  Without salt, we would die.  Furthermore, several different organs such as the adrenal glands depend on an adequate supply of sodium in order to produce necessary stress hormones. 

Low salt diets tend to cause the body to produce high amounts of stress hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone which can contribute to hormonal disruption.  Again, this is due to the adrenals not having enough sodium to function properly and as a result cannot counteract these stress hormones.

Candida sufferers will already have high amounts of stress hormones circulating through the body due to the presence of this pathogenic fungus.  Consequently, every step possible should be taken in order to help counteract these stress hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone.  Luckily, increasing your intake of sea salt is an easy way to do this.

Lastly, it’s well known that those on low salt diets oftentimes experience digestive issues when followed long term.  Sea salt has several different properties which can aid in digestion (more on this below) and limiting your salt intake is not wise for those already experiencing digestive issues due to candida overgrowth.

Sea Salt Naturally Increases Stomach Acid Level

As mentioned above, sea salt is excellent for improving digestion.  This is because sea salt contains an important mineral called chloride which is necessary for healthy stomach acid production in the body.  Chloride is one of the many elements needed in order for stomach acid to properly form.

This increase in stomach acid can naturally help to improve digestion in the body.  Despite popular belief, too little stomach acid is the primary cause of several different digestive disorders such as acid reflux, indigestion, bloating, and belching.

When stomach acid levels are adequate, the body is able to properly break down food and extract the necessary nutrients needed for optimal health.  Also, stomach acid naturally has a sterilizing effect.  It’s well known that pathogens such as pylori and candida will release small amounts of ammonia in order to raise the PH of the stomach (1)(2). 

This implies that several different pathogenic organism actually a prefer an alkaline environment.  As a result, by increasing stomach acid levels we naturally lower the PH of the stomach and make the environment more difficult for various pathogens to survive in.  It should be mentioned that the stomach should have a PH of around 1.5-2.0 in order for optimal health.

Our Blood is Salty

One of the biggest giveaways as to why we should be consuming more sea salt is the fact that our blood is salty.  For example tears, sweat, plasma, blood, and urine are all salty.  It’s true that the body is made up of primarily water, however, it’s mostly salty water!

Maintaining this balance between water and salt is critical for optimal health.  Drinking too much water without enough salt can actually disrupt this balance and wash salts from the body.  This is why drinking copious amounts of water isn’t only not healthy, but will not properly hydrate the body over long periods of time.

Those dealing with candida overgrowth will want to ensure that they’re maintaining adequate levels of hydration in the body.  Dehydration can lead to symptoms such as inflammation which will inevitably make a candida condition much worse.

Simply adding more quality sea salt, as well as enough water, is a great way to maintain proper balance within the body.

Consider A Sea Salt Flush

Doing a sea salt flush can be beneficial for those dealing with candida overgrowth and digestive disorders.  A sea salt flush essentially resets both the system and gut microbiome.  It also helps to sterilize the gut of possible pathogens that may have made their way into the small intestines.  Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and candida overgrowth tend to go hand and hand.

To perform, simply add a tablespoon of quality sea salt to a liter of water and stir until completely dissolved.  Begin to drink this solution by taking small sips.  It should take you around 30 minutes to finish the solution.

Once complete, be prepared to go to the bathroom.  The sea salt flush helps to naturally induce bowel movements and helps to empty both the intestines and colon.  This is one of the quickest ways to naturally remove pathogens from the digestive tract.

However, once complete, it’s vital that you begin to hydrate with plain water.  Coconut water is very beneficial due to its high amount of potassium which often gets depleted when too much salt is consumed.

The Bottom Line – Should you Consume Sea Salt?

Sea salt can be great for not only those dealing with candida overgrowth, but also for those seeking optimal health.  Salt, in particular sodium, is a necessary an essential element required for survival.  As a result, low salt diets are not something we recommend.

That being said, it’s important that you always use a high quality sea salt.  Personally, we believe that sea salts are much more beneficial than compared to rock salts such as Pink Himalayan.  This is because all sea salts are naturally higher in magnesium.  It’s well known that nearly half of the general population is deficient in this key mineral (3).

For best results, add a quality sea salt to your meals and use it to taste.  Your body will naturally tell you how much salt you need!