Iodine Protocol and Salt
Unrefined salt is part of The Iodine Protocol which recommends 1/2 teaspoon of unrefined salt per day.
Celtic salt was once the top recommendation in the iodine community, but it is no longer recommended. Celtic sea salt is dried in clay, and there is concern that toxins from the clay leach into the salt during this process. Since the iodine protocol is focused on detoxification, adding a potential source of clay-derived toxins works against the goal. Redmond Real Salt and Himalayan pink salt are now the preferred options.
It's best to add this salt to food so the body can absorb it properly. Another method of consuming salt is called salt loading, which mixes salt with a little water and then follows with fresh water.
If someone is under the impression that salt is bad for health, reading the book "Salt Your Way to Health" can provide a better idea of how important quality salt can be, especially during detox and healing.
Several doctors and iodine advocates like the idea of using a lot of salt loading to keep up with detox and hydration. But the body may prefer pure water and sodium intake with food. Salting food heavily and drinking pure spring water is one approach. If symptoms come up that cause us to try a salt load, and we feel benefits, increasing salt intake via food may be wise. There is some information about electrolytes damaging liver and kidney cells in order to increase hydration. Because of this, the body would likely prefer to absorb salt slower with food vs large doses with water all the time. Keeping up with salt intake on food can allow us to keep up with the bromine being knocked loose as we go slow with iodine.
Sodium Deficiency Symptoms
Weakness. Fatigue or low energy. Headache. Nausea. Vomiting. Loss of appetite. Muscle cramps or spasms. Confusion. Irritability. Restlessness. Altered personality. Lethargy. Seizures. Convulsions. Decreased consciousness. Hallucinations. Coma. Death.
So, Salt Is... Good?
Humans sweat, cry, bleed, and urinate salty substances. Our cells use sodium to access their fuel. The phrase "worth one's weight in salt" originates from the ancient Romans, who understood the value of salt.
Being so valuable, soldiers in the Roman army were sometimes paid with salt instead of money. Their monthly allowance was called "salarium" ("sal" being the Latin word for salt). This Latin root can be recognized in the French word "salaire" — and it eventually made it into the English language as the word "salary."
Unrefined salt supplies the body with over 75 nutrients. Our cells need it to eventually be able to expel toxins via potassium in order to properly generate energy. It helps us sleep and prevents muscle cramps.
Our cells depend on sodium to run the sodium-glucose pump in order to access their fuel, glucose.
What About Toxins in Salt?
There are a handful of people pointing out several potential toxicity issues with unrefined salts. These concerns may not be wrong, but here is why some of us do not worry about these situations much.
A lot of people mention the fact that salt can have microplastics or other toxins. Focusing on supporting the body's ability to process hormone substances and other toxins we might find as we consume products with bits of plastic is one approach. Iodine is part of hormone balancing, but so are boron, CDG + DIM, and other various nutrients.
If someone is trying to get started with iodine and other various nutrients and is already feeling a little overwhelmed, the benefits of decent unrefined salt likely outweigh the risks of microplastics. It's wise to start with the best option available while planning on refining it over time. Many of us have wasted months and years by putting off nutrients that ended up providing a tremendous amount of help to the metabolism, simply because we wanted to avoid some filler.
Which Unrefined Salt Is Best?
There are a handful of different types of unrefined salt available. Celtic salt is no longer recommended due to concerns about toxins leaching from the clay used during its drying process — a significant issue when the whole point of the protocol is detoxification. Redmond Real Salt is the top recommendation — mined from an ancient sea bed in Utah, no clay drying process involved. Himalayan pink salt is also widely available and contains a good mineral profile.
The key is to use unrefined salt that still contains its natural mineral content, rather than the standard white table salt that has been stripped of everything except sodium chloride. Whichever brand or type we choose, making sure it is truly unrefined and not just colored or flavored is important.
Ways to Increase Salt Intake
The simplest method is to add unrefined salt generously to food. This allows the body to absorb it gradually alongside other nutrients from the meal.
For those experiencing bromine detox symptoms, salt loading is an option — mixing salt with a small amount of water and following it with fresh water. However, this is best reserved for acute symptoms rather than used as a daily habit.
Keeping unrefined salt accessible at all times — on the kitchen table, at a desk, in a bag — makes it easier to remember to use it throughout the day. Over time, the body starts to crave salt when it needs more, and the taste becomes a helpful guide for intake.