Let's talk food: Salt

Salt. Salt gets a bad rep. Well, like everything, it depends on multiple factors. We are always told salt is bad or not to add too much salt on our food. Before keto I did not use salt at all. AT ALL. However, on a ketogenic diet salt is detrimental to your success and health. I don't mean that Diamond Crystal or Morton table salt. Think of those as the equivalent to Wonder bread. All the good things have been removed long before you ever get to use it. I'm talking about real salt, Celtic, Himalayan, pink or grey. Real salt is a true MVP on a keto diet. Without getting too technical here is the essence: with the lack of processed carbohydrates and sugar your body will no longer retain water as on a standard american diet. On keto, you lose electrolytes, sodium and magnesium much faster than when you ate all the junk. Less water retention or bloatedness is great but you must make sure to salt your food and take in electrolytes or a magnesium supplement as needed.  If you are interested in the real scientific logic behind salt you may check out the books below. 

Another cool salt/keto related thing: if you start to get headachy you can add some sea salt to your water and it should get rid of your headache. Personally, I haven't tried it yet because it sounds a bit odd to me. If I get headachy I drop an electrolyte tab into my water and that almost instantly does the trick. Pickle juice is also said to work, but again I have not tested that theory. The few times I have had a headache while keto have been after a long run (5 miles) in the heat (90+ degrees) and did not have enough sodium. 

My favorite is the pink Himalayan sea salt. At Stop and Shop they don't have many varieties. The first time I bought pink himalayan sea salt was at Marshall's for 3.99. If you can find it there or T.J. Max I think it is a bit cheaper than what a regular grocery store will charge.