Salt is necessary to every function of the body. Like the ocean, we are made of salt water and we need it to survive. Here are three things you should know about salt including what to choose and how much to use.

1. Ordinary table salt is terrible for your health. It is processed at high heat, chemically washed, and has added anti-caking agents (silica, those little packets in your new purse that you’re not supposed to eat). It will cause water retention and salt related illnesses like kidney stones and hypertension.

2. Natural sea salts are balanced by nature to provide the correct balance of sodium chloride and minerals the body needs and they contain no harmful preservatives or chemical treatments.

3. The two best sea salts to purchase are Himalayan Pink Salt or Celtic Sea Salt. You will need about 1,500 miligrams of salt each day.

For more information about salt, read this.