Ayurveda is a 4,000-year-old holistic Indian approach to healing which utilizes natural elements, herbs and foods.

The principle of Ayurveda is to improve overall health and well-being and to achieve harmony by paying equal attention to the body, mind and spirit.

Ayur means life and veda means knowledge, so Ayurveda translates to the “the knowledge of life.”

From Ayurvedic perspective, wherever there is water, there should be salt and vice versa.

We are often advised to lower our salt intake, instead of being told to consume a healthy dose of unrefined salt that is high in essential minerals and to reduce our refined (table) salt intake as it is almost pure sodium chloride with barely any traces of essential minerals.

Unrefined salt, and a healthy balance of it, is essential for the function of every cell in our bodies. It provides us with vital nutrients that stabilize our metabolism. Our metabolism needs to be healthy to ensure that it is able to absorb fuel and transform it to energy. 

We are also regularly advised to drink plenty of water, when, ironically, drinking too much plain water can deplete our electrolytes which help us retain water. Over drinking also makes us feel bloated and puts stress on our digestive organs.

Too much water also makes our stomach feel bloated and heavy and overburdens our digestive organs. Rather than drinking copious amounts of water, we can reduce our water intake and still stay hydrated simply by adding a small amount of salt water (sole) to our morning drink.  

For thousands of years, Himalayan salt, which is regularly referred to as a Sattvic food, has been considered by Ayurveda to be therapeutic as it has numerous health benefits.

Himalayan salt contains 84 essential minerals and elements and is often referred to as the purest form of salt as it has been stored for millions of years in the Himalayan mountains, so it is unaffected by modern day pollution.

Pink Himalayan salt has a low sodium and high electrolyte count, so it effectively hydrates the body, whereas white refined table salt dehydrates the body.   

Salt water “sole” (pronounced as solay) cleanses the entire stomach and intestines which encourages effective digestion and metabolism. Ayurveda states that salt also calms and soothes emotions and our nervous system, replaces and balances electrolytes and replenishes and reenergizes the entire body.

Himalayan Salt dissolved in water to create a brine is often referred to as “energized water.”

Here is a simple guide to making an energizing Ayurvedic Himalayan Salt Water Drink:

•    2 level teaspoons organic Himalayan Salt

•    1 quart spring or filtered water

•    Add the water to a glass or jar and slowly sprinkle in the crystals and keep stirring until no more crystals will dissolve in the water. (or leave sitting for 24 hours.) The mixture is only ready when the crystals no longer dissolve.

•    Add a teaspoon of the mixture to a glass of cool boiled water.

•    Store the jar by covering and keeping in a cool dry place. It will keep forever as it has a natural preservative in it (salt).

When we add the crystals slowly so that they can be fully absorbed by the water, it allows the minerals in the salt to become ionized and electrically charged so our cells can fully absorb the solution. The structure of both the water and the salt has altered to create sole water which is an electrolyte tonic.

I add a teaspoon of sole to cool boiled water and drink it soon after I have woken up and before I have eaten anything. I also have a glass of filtered water half an hour before each meal, a glass in between each meal and one just before I go to sleep. As well as this, I drink a glass of water before and after exercise and if I ever start to feel dehydrated. This practice has left me feeling healthy, energetic, and sharp.

Ayurveda states that the following benefits occur from consuming a healthy supply of Himalayan salt:

Regulates water content in the body

Promotes a healthy PH balance in our cells

Promotes blood sugar health

Promotes intestine health and aids digestion

Supports respiratory health

Promotes sinus health

Prevents muscle cramps

Assists joints with flexibility

Promotes bone strength

Naturally regulates sleep

Supports our libido

Balances electrolytes

Enhances oral hygiene

Reduces signs of aging

Detoxes the body

Nourishes the adrenal glands

Energizes

“Water before a meal is nectar. It replenishes fluids and encourages juicy digestive organs. Small sips during a meal is honey. It helps turn the food into a sauce. Water after a meal is poison because it dilutes stomach acids.” ~ Dr. Vasant Lad

Author’s Note:  If there are any health concerns, particularly around blood pressure levels, always seek medical advice or carry out further research before making alterations to your diet. 

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Author: Alex Myles

Editor: Travis May

Image: Kathy/Flickr

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