Salt is essential not just to life, but to great health. The National Academy of Sciences recommends that Americans consume a a minimum of 500 mg/day of sodium to keep a healthy body. Individual needs, however, differ significantly based a person’s hereditary make-up as well as their lifestyle. Whilst individual needs range broadly, most Americans don’t have any trouble reaching their minimum requirements. Most consume “excess” sodium above and beyond which required for proper bodily function. The kidneys effectively process this particular “excess” sodium in healthy people.
Experimental research has shown that many humans endure a variety of sodium intakes, from about 250 mg/day to over 30,000 mg/day. The actual range is significantly narrower. Americans consume about 3,500 mg/day of sodium; men more, women less. The very large amount of the population utilizes 1,150- 5,750 mg/day that is termed the “hygienic safety range” of sodium intake by renowned Swedish hypertension expert Dr. Björn Folkow. Every substance, including water, could be toxic in a few concentrations as well as amounts; this isn’t a substantial concern for dietary salt.
Most of our salt originates from foods, a few from water. Doctors recommend replacing water as well as salt lost in exercise and when working outside. Wilderness hikers know the significance of salt tablets to fight hyperthermia. Oral rehydration involves replacing both water and salt. Expectant mothers are encouraged to get sufficient salt. Increased salt intakes have been used successfully to fight Long-term Fatigue Syndrome. Dramatic inadequacies (e.g. “salt starvation” in India) or “excessive” sodium intakes have been associated with other conditions and diseases, such as hypertension and stomach cancer.
Testing the salinity of perspiration is a great test for cystic fibrosis; scientists suspect that cystic fibrosis is caused by a deformed protein that stops chloride outside cells from attracting needed moisture. Human blood consists of 0.9% salt (sodium chloride), the same concentration as present in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) sodium chloride irrigant widely used to cleanse wounds. Salt keeps the electrolyte balance inside and outside of cells.
History of Salt
Salt was so beneficial it is considered to have been part of a Roman soldier’s wages, and ancient governments controlled its movement. France only ended its unpopular salt tax, begun in 1286, in 1790. Salt, not easy to access just before industrial production, was crucial that you our ancestors since it might be utilized to protect food in the refrigerator-less world. But it’s more than a kitchen staple.
It has recently been utilized for centuries to cleanse, soften as well as treat the skin as well as hair. The Egyptians and Romans made salt rubs by massaging a combination of salt, herbs as well as natural oils in the body to cleanse and refresh. Hippocrates was among the first to enhance the usage of salt within the bath to heal and calm the body. Today salt is still a well known beauty component, and could be present in many natural as well as commercial products. You will notice salt listed as sodium chloride on product labels.
Types of Salt
There are numerous types of salt, each having various kinds of crystals and uses. The dimensions of their crystals as well as color differs based upon the existence of various minerals. A few of the common types of salt are listed below.
1. Iodized Salt
This is essentially table salt having additives just like iodine and is also regarded as therapeutic for thyroid patients. Because it is a table salt, it has fine granules and is also mainly utilized for home usage. Additionally it is utilized as an anti-caking agent to avoid lumping.
2. Kosher Salt
It is really an additive free coarse grained salt made by compacting granular salt. It is usually preferred for cooking since it features a softer taste compared to table salt. It is usually applied on butchered meat since the large irregularly shaped flakes can draw blood effortlessly. Because of its big surface area, it melts easily without over salting and is also utilized as water softener.
3. Black Salt
Referred to as ‘kala namak’ or even ‘sanchal’, it’s a tanned salt having a powerful sulfuric flavor because of the inclusion of purified lava. In India, it is obtainable in ground form in addition to lumps and is also mostly utilized as pickling salt.
4. Sel Gris
This can be a grey salt indigenous to France. A by product called fleur de sel is created whenever sel gris is permitted to bloom into flowerlike crystals in evaporation basins.
5. Maldon sea salt
It is just a British finishing salt which is similar to fleur de sel and is also obtained by boiling sea water. It includes fragile pyramidal crystals and it has a light sensitive taste.
6. Rock Salt
This particular salt has got discrete crystals and is also utilized for deicing. It is usually found in ice creams since it brings down the freezing point.
Health benefits of Salt
In case you are under the impression that salt is simply a different way to lower your health and add to your waistline, then you need to know there are actually advantages to adding just a little salt in your diet. Salt plays a part in water retention, muscle contraction, as well as consists of nutrients which are fundamental to your stomach. Salt in moderation is really vital for your diet. Take a look at a few Health benefits of Salt:
1. Salt Helps Retain Water in the Body
Our bodies depend on electrolytes, which includes salt, to assist carry out electrical impulses that control a number of our bodies’ functions. To keep the body functioning since they should, the body require the appropriate quantity of electrolytes. Electrolytes bring about thirst mechanism, that cause us to consume sufficient quantities of water. With this particular water, our kidneys are able to keep the right quantity of electrolytes within our bloodstream. The quantity of water our bodies retain also effect blood pressure level. Think about it: lots of bars and restaurants supply complimentary salty snacks. Why? They make you thirsty and needing to buy more drinks!
2. Salt Stimulates Muscle Contraction
Salt is very important to the nerves, since it encourages muscle contraction; this can also aid stop your muscles from cramping. Salt also keeps calcium along with other minerals within the bloodstream. Additionally, it energizes the adrenal glands. Salt is additionally extremely important within the protection against heat prostration as well as sunstroke, that is necessary for remember during hot summertime.
3. Salt Contains Nutrients Vital to the Digestive System
Salt performs a principal role within the processes of digestion as well as absorption. Salt stimulates an enzyme within the mouth known as salivary amylase. At this time, the salt allows your taste buds to taste the food. Salt additionally plays a part in digestion simply by helping to break down food. Salt also creates hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid is an extremely essential digestive secretion, that lines the stomach walls. Salt will help the body digest food, instead of attempting to eat itself.
4. A Lack of Salt Is Dangerous
A sodium insufficiency is a health problem where a body ceases to get an enough supply of sodium. Sodium insufficiency may become incredibly common in extreme temperatures, that result in the body to sweat heavily as well as patterns of dehydration will set in. Sodium deficiency can result in shock if the blood pressure level is decreased too seriously. Salt is essential to good nutritional status. Too little may cause disturbances in tissue-water as well as acid-base balance, that is important to good nutrition.
5. Beneficial in Respiratory Problems
Salt could be a big help in case of respiratory issues just like asthma, bronchitis as well as hay fever. It is great at decreasing inflammation within the respiratory system, therefore slowing down the creation of phlegm to help you breathe easier. Taking half a teaspoon of salt in the glass of water might help in clearing sinus as well as bronchial congestion.
6. Facilitates Proper Sleep and Cures Depression
Many people have this problem of saliva flowing out from the mouth while sleeping which indicates salt deficiency within the body. Lack of salt can result in shortage of water and also the saliva glands sensing this shortage are required to create more saliva. {Consuming|Ingesting} sea salt at bedtime helps prevent the creation of excessive saliva. Moreover, salt cures depression by producing the two hormones serotonin as well as melatonin which allow you to deal with stress, therefore making you relax and sleep better during the night.
7. Prevents Osteoporosis
Salt is required to keep the bones healthy as well as nearly ¼ of the salt within your body is saved in the bones. Lack of salt and water causes the body to draw sodium through the bones, resulting in osteoporosis. Therefore, consuming lots of water and consuming salt moderately helps you to avoid osteoporosis.
8. Strong Immune System
Salt is the world’s earliest anti-biotic having anti-viral qualities. Therefore, it’s really a wonderful replacement for antibiotics minus the side effects. It fortifies your immune system, helping you to fight off the cold virus, fever, flu and autoimmune diseases in addition to keep allergies away.
9. Good for Heart
Though salt generally is recognized as harmful in this regard, sea salt combined in water can help to eliminate high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure levels as well as control an irregular heartbeat, therefore providing safety against atherosclerosis, heart attacks as well as strokes.
10. Dental Health
Salt performs a crucial role in dental health and is also frequently utilized as a component in toothpastes. You may create home-made toothpaste simply by combining crushed sea salt as well as baking soda in the ratio of 1:2 and brush the teeth with this particular mixture. A mouthwash may also be made by adding ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon baking soda into a 4 ounce glass of water and washing with it.
11. Face Exfoliator
Massaging the skin and face with a combination of 1 teaspoon fine grained salt and 1 teaspoon olive oil for exfoliating your skin.
12. Acts as a Skin Toner
Salt may be used to decrease facial oiliness. For this function, fill a tiny spray bottle along with tepid water combined with 1 teaspoon salt and mist in your face. Make sure you avoid the eyes. This behaves as a skin toner.
13. Treatment of Puffed Eyes
To treat puffiness of eyes, lie on your back as well as apply pads soaked in the solution of one teaspoon salt as well as hot water.
14. Salt Scrub
Salt scrub can be used as scrubbing your arms and legs to exfoliate dead cells as well as improve circulation. After showering or bath whenever your skin is still wet, spread some salt on your hands and rub it lightly on arms and legs.
15. Softens your Hair
Salt adds gentleness, bounce and body to your hair. Because of the existence of important minerals, it can make the hair shiny as well as moisturizes it as well as repairs and shields it. It’s got wonderful healing qualities due to which it may heal damaged hair.
16. Stops Sweating of Scalp
To eliminate excessive sweat, use salt spray on dampened roots and allow it to dry. This can soak up {any kind of|virtually any} sweat or oil during the day as salt can soak up moisture.
17. Lowers stress
Research has revealed that stress hormones are inhibited by higher amounts of sodium within the body. Researchers in the University of Haifa’s Department of Psychology state that people might crave salt partly simply because its main component, sodium, helps fight depressive disorders.
18. Improves sleep quality
Salt has been discovered to prevent stress hormones. This might explain why individuals have reported that low sodium diets lead to sleep interference.
34 Ways to Use Salt for Survival
The following list is a mixture of suggestions and the tips from you, the readers, who’re always a wealth of information.
Food preservation: Salt can be used as an off-grid method to protect meat, fish and game which is caught in the wild.
Supplemental use: Table salt can offer the nominal quantity of dietary sodium as soon as the canned and processed foods are gone.
Taste enhancement: (perhaps this ought to be number 1!).
Dental hygiene: A salt paste may be used to brush the teeth.
Remove Rust: Make a paste utilizing 6 tablespoons of salt and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Use paste to rusted area with a dry cloth as well as rub. Rinse completely and dry.
Perk up coffee flavor: Include a pinch of salt on the coffee in the basket of the coffeemaker. This can enhance the coffee’s flavor simply by assisting to eliminate a few of the acid taste.
Clean cast iron skillets and pots: If our cast iron cookware is gunked up with bits of food, create a paste from salt along with a little bit of water then scrub it clean. To speed the procedure, boil a modest amount of water in the pot, include some salt and use a long handled brush to whisk away the burned on food.
Eliminate fish odors: Removing fish odor from the hands is easy with Salt. Simply rub the hands using a lemon wedge drizzled with salt, then rinse with water.
Cut cutting board odors: To assist cut odors off of your wooden cutting board, just pour an ample quantity of Salt directly on the board. Rub lightly using a damp cloth. Wash in warm, sudsy water.
Soothe sore throats: To relieve the discomfort of the mild sore throat, gargle repeatedly during the day using a mix of 1/4 teaspoon Salt as well as 1/2 cup warm water*. It’s like getting a liquid lozenge.
Treat your tootsies: To prepare a salt water bath, pour 6 quarts (1-1/2 gallons) warm water in the large basin. Mix in 1/4 cup Salt and also 1/4 cup baking soda. Dip feet for approximately Fifteen minutes.
Boiling water: Salt included with water makes the water boil in a higher temperature, therefore decreasing cooking time (it doesn’t make the water boil faster).
Testing egg freshness: Put the egg in the cup of water to which two teaspoonfuls of salt have been included. A fresh egg sinks; if this floats, throw it.
Cleaning greasy pans: The greasiest iron pan will certainly wash effortlessly if you are using just a little salt within it and wipe along with paper towels.
Cleaning stained cups: Rubbing along with salt will certainly take away stubborn coffee or tea stains from cups.
Save the bottom of your oven: If the pie or even casserole bubbles over in the oven, place a handful of salt over the spill. It will not smoke and smell, and it’ll bake in a crust which makes the baked-on mess quicker to clean when it has cooled.
Fend off fire from a rogue BBQ: Toss a little bit of salt on flames from food dripping in barbecue grills to lessen the flames and also calm the smoke without cooling the coals (like water does).
Removing pinfeathers: To eliminate pinfeathers easily from the chicken, rub the chicken skin along with salt first.
Preventing mold: To avoid mold on cheese, wrap it in the cloth dampened along with saltwater just before refrigerating.
Keeping milk fresh: Including a pinch of salt to milk could keep it fresh longer.
Scaling fish: Soak fish in salt water just before descaling; the scales will come off much easier.
Non-stick pancakes: Rub salt in your pancake griddle as well as your flapjacks won’t stick.
Keeping cut flowers fresh: A dash of salt included with the water in the flower vase could keep cut flowers fresh longer.
Keeping patios weed-free: If weeds or even unwanted grass come up in between patio bricks or even blocks, very carefully spread salt between the bricks as well as blocks, then sprinkle along with water or even wait for rain to wet it down.
Killing poison ivy: Combine three pounds of salt with a gallon of soapy water and apply at leaves as well as stems using a sprayer.
Deodorizing shoes: Sprinkling just a little salt in canvas shoes sometimes will take up the moisture which help eliminate odors.
Relieving bee stings: If stung, instantly wet the spot and cover along with salt to alleviate the pain.
Deter ants: Sprinkle salt at doorways, window sills as well as anywhere else ants sneak in your house. Ants do not like to walk on salt.
Clean teeth: Use one part fine salt to two parts baking soda – dip your toothbrush within the mix and brush as always.
Melt snow and ice: Spread salt on snow or even ice to melt away.
Removing soot:Occasionally throw a number of salt on the flames within your fireplace; it can help loosen soot through the chimney and salt creates a bright yellow flame.
For soap making: Salt is an element in some soap recipes. It encourages a chemical reaction which hardens the soap.
Nasal Rinse: Mix well 1/4 cup salt & 1/4 cup of baking soda as well as store in a airtight container, use 1/4 tsp. for every rinse. It will help stop a cold virus in the tracks, can sort out seasonal allergies, and may reduce sinus pressure. Lots of people utilize a neti pot for this function.
Dispose of disposal odor: To help eliminate odors from garbage disposals, pour 1/2 cup of Salt straight into the garbage disposal. By running the disposal following manufacturer’s directions, you’ll send those odors down the drain.
Recipe of Salt
1. Roasted Garlic Salt
Ingredients
1 head of garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup of kosher salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
Place the garlic on tin foil, drizzle together with the olive oil. Wrap up the garlic and put in the oven.
Cook for around 30-40 minutes till the garlic cloves are soft.
Once the garlic has cooled, squeeze out the roasted garlic as well as stir in the salt. Utilizing a fork or perhaps your fingers, lightly mix the salt and garlic in large shallow oven-proof glass dish. Attempt to break up the salt as far as possible.
Preheat the oven to 200ºF. Put the garlic salt within the oven to dry out about 20-30 minutes.
Once the moisture has been eliminated and it has cooled, utilize a fork to break up the salt.
Package in small jars.
2. Meyer Lemon Salt
Ingredients
3 lemons (preferably meyer)
1 cup kosher salt
Directions
Zest three lemons in the shallow oven-proof dish. Mix salt along with the lemon.
Juice one lemon in the salt. Combine the salt, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Make sure to utilize a fork or perhaps your fingers to break up the salt as far as possible.
Preheat the oven to 200ºF. Put the lemon salt in the oven for around 20-25 minutes to dry out the salt.
Wait for the salt to cool and make use of a fork or perhaps your fingers to break up salt.
Package up the salt in small jars.
3. Shiitake Mushroom Salt
Ingredients
1 ounce of dried shiitake mushrooms
1 cup of kosher salt
Directions
Using a strong food processor, finely dice the shiitake mushrooms.
Once diced, in the large bowl add some shiitake mushrooms and also the salt. Mix well.
Package the salt in small jars.
http://www.popsugar.com/food/Flavored-Salt-Recipes-20854513
Health Dangers of Salt
Table salt leads to the blood pressure to rise quickly since the blood is trying to move the toxic elements quickly from the heart. For this reason doctors will frequently tell individuals with high blood pressure levels to prevent consumption of salt. Furthermore, extreme table salt makes us retain waters along with other fluids. Numerous long-term instability like diabetes, gout as well as obesity could be worsened or perhaps partially brought on by extreme consumption of common table salt. And be aware, this particular salt isn’t just the stuff within your shaker.
Most packaged as well as processed foods consist of astronomical quantities of the stuff. These types of preservatives may cause swelling and, over time, major kidney, thyroid and liver problems, along with the growth and development of goiters, asedema, hypertension, heart disease, strained elimination systems, muscle cramps, water retention, edema, stroke, heart failure, PMS, as well as major central nervous system disorders like anxiety and depression.
Table salt is especially hard on both circulatory system as well as nervous system. Additionally, it wreaks damage to the delicate balance of the lymph system within the body. This salt is additionally highly addicting, since the more the body becomes used to the high amounts of fake sodium, the more it craves it.
Remember, everything in moderateness. Salt has numerous health advantages, however, you whenever used exceedingly, it may also have numerous dangers. I personally quit using traditional table salt, and switched to himalayan salt a long time ago. It’s all my family uses.