Want to know a pinch more about salt?

Salt, like pepper, is in almost every kitchen cupboard and used in almost every cuisine. Whether it’s sprinkled on a dish or added to cooking, just about every dish has a pinch of salt in it. Where does salt come from? Salt that is eaten either comes from seawater or is minded from deep within the earth.

To most salt is just an ingredient in their cooking. But salt is more than that. The body needs salt. Salt is used in preserving food. Salt has been used to preserve corpses and used in the mummification process in ancient times. Due to this high demand of salt, it was heavily taxed, traded and even used as a form or currency.

Most people get a lot of salt in their diet and are told to keep an eye on their salt intake, avoiding salt entirely isn’t good either. Salt has its benefits. The thyroid plays an important role in metabolism. For the thyroid to work properly the body needs iodine. A deficiency in iodine can prevent the body from producing enough thyroid hormone. Having some iodized salt in a diet can help thyroid function properly.

To keep organs functioning properly, hydration and electrolytes need to be balance which salt can help with. A lack of sodium in a diet can lead to low blood pressure.

While a bit of salt is good in a diet there are risks of eating too much salt. Too much salt will increase water retention and bloating. This excess water in the body can put added pressure on the heart and blood vessels triggering high blood pressure. This is a leading factor of heart attack and stroke. The risk of heart disease is higher when a high-sodium diet paired with a low-potassium diet. The potassium helps the body excrete the sodium and relax the blood vessels in the body. The more salt there is in the body, the more calcium the body loses through urination. And without enough calcium there is an increased risk for bone problems like osteoporosis.

Salt is addictive. Consequently, the more salty foods you eat, the more you want salt. Some studies have found that salt stimulates the brain the same way cigarettes and drugs do. Salt cravings can also be a sign of medical problem. There are many types of salt and the body definitely needs a bit of salt. But, this is a separate post!

Lani and Norm

I enjoy learning and sharing that knowledge.Sharing has been in many forms over the years, as a teaching assistant, university lecturer, Pilates instructor, math tutor and just sharing with friends and family.Throughout, summarizing what I have learnt in words has always been there and continues to through blog posts, articles, video and the ever growing forms of content out there!