Michael’s answer to “Does this book mention that salt is poisonous, unfit for human consumption?” > Likes and Comments
25 likes · Like
Salt is toxic in any dose because it is indigestible in any dose. Salt is "the only rock we eat," but we cannot digest rocks. We are plant eaters, not capable of digesting rocks. Sodium and chloride from organic sources are critical nutrients; salt is not. Salt is unnecessary and harmful because it is inorganic and indigestible. Trying to get sodium from salt is like trying to get calcium from sand, chalk, plaster, or dolomite. It doesn't work because these are inorganic substances.
NaCl is an ionically bound compound that completely breaks into free sodium and chloride ions when dissolved in water.
Also, you CAN get calcium from most of those sources. Most of those are just CaCO3 which easily dissolves in the high acidity of the stomach. It's what is found in calcium supplements and tums.
Dissolving in water (or stomach acid) does not equal digestion. You can "get" calcium from inorganic sources but our bodies cannot assimilate it in that form.
Well what makes a substance organic? Most CaCO3 is made by animals such as oysters, plankton, coral, etc. Even what we dig up on land is often just deposited remains of ancient sea life. And our body can easily assimilate it provided you have sufficient Vitamin D in your diet (or you get enough sun). Vitamin D based proteins bind to the free Ca+ ions formed after dissolution in stomach acid, and is absorbed by the small intestine through the TRPV6 ion channel.
What makes a substance organic? According to Webster's Dictionary, organic means derived from living matter. Salt is not derived from living matter, whether it comes from a mine, a pit, or an ocean.
You've made the assumption that anything nonorganic must be toxic. What about water? Not derived from living matter, clearly not toxic. What about snake venom or cyanide. Both organic, both will kill you dead. Animals need salt, that's why so many have been observed licking naturally occurring salt deposits, or occasionally drinking ocean water. The sodium in your stomach, intestines, and blood float around as single ions, your body doesn't care where they came from.
I make the assumption that anything inorganic must be indigestible to us, hence toxic in its effects on us if we eat it. But water is an exception because it does not require digestion. Herbert M. Shelton excepts both water and air. I do not make the assumption that anything organic is nontoxic. Animals don't need salt any more than we do. They need sodium and chloride from organic sources. Salt licks are myth, according to John H. Tobe and Shelton, both of whom discuss them in their books. I have never seen a salt lick. If there are such things they are not everywhere and animals do fine without them. The best source to read on this topic is Shelton. See his quote on Goodreads from his book "Food and Feeding."
back to top
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
P.J.
(new)
Dec 08, 2014 07:55AM
Salt is toxic in any dose because it is indigestible in any dose. Salt is "the only rock we eat," but we cannot digest rocks. We are plant eaters, not capable of digesting rocks. Sodium and chloride from organic sources are critical nutrients; salt is not. Salt is unnecessary and harmful because it is inorganic and indigestible. Trying to get sodium from salt is like trying to get calcium from sand, chalk, plaster, or dolomite. It doesn't work because these are inorganic substances.
reply
|
flag
NaCl is an ionically bound compound that completely breaks into free sodium and chloride ions when dissolved in water.
Also, you CAN get calcium from most of those sources. Most of those are just CaCO3 which easily dissolves in the high acidity of the stomach. It's what is found in calcium supplements and tums.
Dissolving in water (or stomach acid) does not equal digestion. You can "get" calcium from inorganic sources but our bodies cannot assimilate it in that form.
Well what makes a substance organic? Most CaCO3 is made by animals such as oysters, plankton, coral, etc. Even what we dig up on land is often just deposited remains of ancient sea life. And our body can easily assimilate it provided you have sufficient Vitamin D in your diet (or you get enough sun). Vitamin D based proteins bind to the free Ca+ ions formed after dissolution in stomach acid, and is absorbed by the small intestine through the TRPV6 ion channel.
What makes a substance organic? According to Webster's Dictionary, organic means derived from living matter. Salt is not derived from living matter, whether it comes from a mine, a pit, or an ocean.
You've made the assumption that anything nonorganic must be toxic. What about water? Not derived from living matter, clearly not toxic. What about snake venom or cyanide. Both organic, both will kill you dead. Animals need salt, that's why so many have been observed licking naturally occurring salt deposits, or occasionally drinking ocean water. The sodium in your stomach, intestines, and blood float around as single ions, your body doesn't care where they came from.
I make the assumption that anything inorganic must be indigestible to us, hence toxic in its effects on us if we eat it. But water is an exception because it does not require digestion. Herbert M. Shelton excepts both water and air. I do not make the assumption that anything organic is nontoxic. Animals don't need salt any more than we do. They need sodium and chloride from organic sources. Salt licks are myth, according to John H. Tobe and Shelton, both of whom discuss them in their books. I have never seen a salt lick. If there are such things they are not everywhere and animals do fine without them. The best source to read on this topic is Shelton. See his quote on Goodreads from his book "Food and Feeding."
