There is no doubting that table salt is the bane of those who have heart disease. Too much of this seasoning can increase the blood pressure, which can put a lot of strain on the arteries and heart. If left uncontrolled, such can lead to heart attacks and strokes. However, there is no need to consider table salt as something that’s entirely evil. That’s because it has so many benefits that it can also be regarded as heaven-sent.
According to the American Heart Association or AHA, you should limit your daily intake of sodium to 2,300 mg per day, although ideally most adults should not consume more than 1,500 mg of it daily. Table salt is about 40 percent sodium — a teaspoon of it already packs 2,300 mg of sodium!
In order to steer clear of the health repercussions associated with too much sodium in the diet, one must considerably limit his or her intake of table salt as well as other food products that are loaded with sodium.
Should you ban table salt from your kitchen? Not really. Having a container of it can come in handy at times because table salt actually has so many perks to offer aside from making food taste great. The following are some of the surprisingly healthy uses of the seasoning that’s commonly frowned upon by many:
It Speeds Up the Healing of Canker Sores
Canker sores can make eating, drinking and talking so uncomfortable. To accelerate the healing of these painful sores in the mouth, dissolve 2 teaspoons of table salt in 1/4 cup of lukewarm water. Swish it in your mouth for 20 to 30 seconds, and then spit out. Repeat this 3 to 4 times a day. Yes, it will definitely sting each time, but you can expect for those annoying canker sores to go away much faster.
It Provides Relief From a Sore Throat
There are many things that can leave you with a sore throat, such as the common cold, exposure to pollutants or irritants, and prolonged shouting. In order to attain relief from it, all you have to do is dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of table salt in a glass of lukewarm water. Gargle with this for a few seconds, and then spit out. Repeat 2 to 3 times a day.
It Eases the Symptoms of Conjunctivitis
Whenever you have conjunctivitis or pinkeye, you can always count on table salt for relief from its symptoms as well as to shorten the duration of the inflammatory eye problem. What you need to do is boil a cup of distilled water. Dissolve a teaspoon of table salt in it. Let the mixture cool to room temperature. Once cool, wash your eyes with it. You may also use a medicine dropper to instill the solution into the affected eye several times per day.
It Relieves Insect Bites or Stings Very Quickly
As soon as you’re bitten or stung by a pesky insect, immediately add a few drops of water to 1/2 teaspoon of table salt. The goal is to make a paste, which you should apply on the affected area. This will ease the pain as well as ward off an infection. After about half an hour, wash off with water. Repeat the application if deemed necessary.
It Helps Clear Up Congested Nasal Passages
When having a cold, it’s a great idea to have your nasal passages irrigated most especially if your nose is stuffy. All you have to do is dissolve 1 teaspoon of table salt in 2 glasses of warm water — make sure that it’s distilled. Using the so-called neti pot or any other nasal irrigation tool you have, irrigate your nasal passages with the solution. Perform this up to twice a day to clear up the nasal passages and for you to be able to breathe comfortably.
Do you know any other amazing use of table salt? Feel free to share it in the comments section below!
Sources: bembu.com
