Posted by Danielle Downs on Jul.07, 2009

ⓒ iStockPhoto - joannawnuk

Go to your co-op grocery and buy 10 pounds of sea salt. You need it. And at 59 cents a pound, can you really afford not to?

1. Skin Detox

Problems with acne? Fine sea salt is amazing for oily and combination skin types. Salt will slough away the dead skin. Leave a salt on your body for 5 minutes to kill bacteria. Your skin will become noticeably softer and smoother in a few days. Keep fine salt in a cup for daily cleansing to maintain smooth clear skin. For large acne eruptions, dampen salt and rub into blemish. Let stand for 5 minutes. Oils will draw to the surface and bacteria will die. This method works for the face and body. Do not leave salt paste on face for more than 5 minutes. Soaking in a salty bath will draw impurities from the skin. This is a great total body detox strategy.

2. Colon Cleanse

Many of the commercial colon cleansing kits contain fiber supplements to loosen colon toxins and salt mixtures to stimulate elimination. Make your own colon cleansing kit with psyllium and salt. For three days drink an 8 ounce glass of water with 2 tablespoons psyllium husk mixed in with each meal. Avoid cooked foods, meats, and dairy. On the forth day fast until the end of the day. When you get home, drink a liter of water mixed with ¼ cup fine sea salt over the course of an hour or less. The salted water will not be absorbed into the body. Gravity will help move the salted water through your intestinal system, assisting you in passing toxins. Drinking 32 ounces or more of salted water will often relieve constipation and avoid the unpleasantness of using an enema.

3. Germicidal Mania

Salt will kill germs. Soak your tooth brushes in salted water to remove bacteria. This is especially handy during cold and flu season. Rub cutting boards down with salt and let sit for 15 minutes. Rubbing with a salted lemon will whiten stains from beets and other colorful foods that may have penetrated the pores in your wood or bamboo cutting boards.

Warm salt water is an ideal natural gargle for a sore throat. It can also be used to wash away the bacteria in the sinus cavity with the help of a neti pot. Flushing the mucous membranes with salted water has been shown to reduce cold and flu symptoms and maintain better overall health.

4. Eat it!

The natural sea salt purchased in bulk at the co-op is not iodized, but it’s still good for you. Sodium is needed for proper muscle function. The sodium-potassium-pump refers to the biochemical mechanisms that help our bodies move. Summer sweat causes us to lose vital salt. Diets low in processed foods, raw diets, and green lifestyle diets can benefit from natural salt since they lack the sodium chemicals found in preservatives and artificial flavorings.

5. Scour Away

Salt and ice cubes in your coffee pot will remove mineral deposits. Salted lemon wedges make an excellent scrub for enamel sinks, countertops, and more. Salt will draw ink and red wine stains from fabric. If you have a spill in the oven, sprinkle with salt and let the oven cool. The spill will not smoke as much and the mess will turn to powder for easier clean up.

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Posted under Beauty, Spa Living.