Salt is mostly sodium chloride (NaCl). This salt shaker also contains grains of rice, which some use to prevent caking

Brine being boiled down to pure salt in Zigong, China

Salt is a dietary mineral essential for animal life, composed primarily of sodium chloride. Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many Zigong ( ancient name Ziliujing and Gongjing is a Prefecture-level city and the third largest city in Sichuan Province, in southwest China. Dietary minerals are the Chemical elements required by living Organisms other than the four elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and For sodium chloride in the diet see Salt. Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or Halite, is a Salt flavor is one of the basic tastes, and salt is the most popular food seasoning. Flavor or flavour is the sensory impression of a Food or other substance, and is determined Taste (or more formally gustation) is a form of direct Chemoreception and is one of the traditional five Senses Alternate meanings Seasoning (cast iron; Seasoning (wood; Seasoning (slave Seasoning is the process of imparting or improving Salt is also a key preservative. A preservative is a natural or synthetic chemical that is added to products such as foods pharmaceuticals paints biological samples wood etc

Salt for human consumption is produced in different forms: unrefined salt (such as sea salt), refined salt (table salt), and iodized salt. Sea salt, obtained by evaporating Seawater, is used in Cooking and Cosmetics. It is a crystalline solid, white, pale pink or light grey in color, normally obtained from sea water or rock deposits. Seawater is Water from a Sea or Ocean. On average seawater in the world's oceans has a Salinity of about 3 Edible rock salts may be slightly greyish in color due to this mineral content.

Chloride and sodium ions, the two major components of salt, are necessary for the survival of all known living creatures, including humans. Salt is involved in regulating the water content (fluid balance) of the body. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Salt cravings may be caused by trace mineral deficiencies as well as by a deficiency of sodium chloride itself. Conversely, overconsumption of salt increases the risk of health problems, including high blood pressure. Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the Blood pressure is chronically elevated

History

Main article: History of salt

Human beings have enjoyed canning and artificial refrigeration for only a couple of centuries; for the countless millennia before then, salt provided the best-known preservative of food, especially meat. Salt 's ability to preserve food was a foundation of Civilization. ^[1]

The harvest of salt from the surface of the salt lake Yuncheng in Shanxi dates back to at least 6000 B. ( Postal map spelling: Shansi) is a province in the northern part of the People's Republic of China. C. , making it one of the oldest verifiable saltworks. ^[2]:18–19

Salt was included among funereal offerings found in ancient Egyptian tombs from the third millennium B. Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now C. , as were salted birds and salt fish. ^[2]:38 About 2800 B. C. , the Egyptians began exporting salt fish to the Phoenicians in return for Lebanon Cedar, glass, and the dye Tyrian purple; the Phoenicians traded Egyptian salt fish and salt from North Africa throughout their Mediterranean trade empire. Phoenicia ( Phoenician: Phoenician nunsvg|12px|נ]]Phoenician nun Cedrus libani ( Lebanon Cedar or Cedar of Lebanon) is a species of Cedar native to the mountains of the Mediterranean region Phoenicia ( Phoenician: Phoenician nunsvg|12px|נ]]Phoenician nun ^[2]:44

Along the Sahara, the Tuareg maintain routes especially for the transport of salt through the use of salt caravans (known there as azalai). The Sahara (الصحراء الكبرى aṣ-ṣaḥrā´ al-kubra, "The Great Desert" is the world's largest hot Desert and the world's second largest The Tuareg (also Twareg or Touareg, Amazigh: Imuhagh / Itargiyen, besides regional ethnyms are a Nomadic The Azalai (var Azalay) is a semi annual salt caravan route practiced by Tuareg traders in the Sahara desert or the act of traveling with a In 1960, the caravans still transported some 15 000 ton of salt, yet it has now declined to only roughly a third of this. ^[3]

On the river Salzach in central Austria, within a radius of no more than 17 kilometres, lie Salzburg, Hallstatt, and Hallein. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Salzach literally means "salt water" and Salzburg "salt city", both taking their names from the Germanic root for salt, salz; Hallstatt literally means "salt town" and Hallein "saltwork", taking their names from hal(l)-, a root for salt found in Celtic, Greek, and Egyptian. The Salzach is a river in Austria and Germany. It is a right tributary of the Inn and is 225 kilometres (140 mi in length is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg. The Germanic languages are a group of related languages that constitute a branch of the Indo-European (IE Language family. The root is the primary lexical unit of a Word, which carries the most significant aspects of semantic content and cannot be reduced into smaller constituents Hallstatt, Upper Austria is a village in the Salzkammergut, a region in Austria. Hallein is a town in the Austrian state of Salzburg. It is located at along the Salzach river in the shadow of the Untersberg massif near the The root is the primary lexical unit of a Word, which carries the most significant aspects of semantic content and cannot be reduced into smaller constituents The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic" a branch of the greater Indo-European Language family. The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c Egyptian is an Afro-Asiatic language most closely related to the Berber, Semitic, Somali and Beja languages The root hal(l)- also gave us Gaul, the Roman exonym for the Celts. The root is the primary lexical unit of a Word, which carries the most significant aspects of semantic content and cannot be reduced into smaller constituents Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Hallstatt and Hallein in Austria, Halle and Schwäbisch Hall in Germany, Halych in Ukraine, and Galicia in Spain: this list of places named for Celtic saltworks is far from complete. Halle is the largest city in the German State of Saxony-Anhalt. Schwäbisch Hall (or Hall for short is a town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg; it is the capital of the District of Halych (Галич Гáлич Halicz Halyčas is a historic city on the Dniester River in western Ukraine. Galicia (occasionally Galiza) is an autonomous community in northwest Spain. ^[4][5][6]

Hallstatt gave its name to the Celtic archaeological culture that began mining for salt in the area in around 800 B. The Hallstatt culture was the predominant Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts In addition to its usual meaning in Social science, in Archaeology, the term culture is also used in reference to several related concepts unique to C. Around 400 B. C. , the Hallstatt Celts, who had heretofore mined for salt, began flushing the salt out of mines as brine and boiling off the excess water. A salt mine is an operation involved in the extraction of salt from Rock salt or halite a type of evaporitic deposit In the United States and the United Kingdom virtually all domestic salt is obtained by solution mining of underground salt formations During the first millennium B. C. , Celtic communities grew rich trading salt and salted meat to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome in exchange for wine and other luxuries. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC ^[1]

At times, troops in the Roman army were even paid in salt, which is the origin of the words salary and, by way of French, soldier. The Roman army was a set of military forces employed by the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and later Roman Empire as part of the Roman military French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people ^[2]:63 The word salad literally means "salted," and comes from the ancient Roman practice of salting leaf vegetables. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Leaf vegetables, also called potherbs, greens, or leafy greens, are plant leaves eaten as a Vegetable, sometimes accompanied ^[2]:64

In religion

There are thirty-five verses which reference salt in the English translation of the Bible (King James Version), the earliest being the story of Lot's wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt when she disobediently looked back at the wicked cities of Sodom (Genesis 19:26). Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin According to the Bible and the Quran, Lot ( Arabic: لوط, Lūṭ |; "Hidden covered" was the Nephew When King Abimelech destroyed the city of Shechem he is said to have "sowed salt on it;" a phrase expressing the completeness of its ruin. Shechem ( Sichem, Shkhem or Shachmu, Hebrew: שְׁכֶם‎ / שְׁכָם, Standard (Judges 9:45. ) In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus referred to his followers as the "salt of the earth". In the Gospel of St Matthew, the Sermon on the Mount is a compilation of Jesus' sayings epitomizing his moral teaching. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) The apostle Paul also encouraged Christians to "let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6).

Salt is mandatory in the rite of the Tridentine Mass. The Tridentine Mass (Missa Tridentina is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published Salt is used in the third item (which includes an Exorcism) of the Celtic Consecration (cf. Gallican rite) that is employed in the consecration of a church. The Gallican Rite is a historical sub-grouping of the Roman Catholic Liturgy in Western Europe; it is not a single rite but actually a family of Rites Salt may be added to the water "where it is customary" in the Roman Catholic rite of Holy water. Holy water can also refer to water that has been blessed, such as by a Priest, and is considered Holy.

In the native Japanese religion Shinto, salt is used for ritual purification of locations and people, such as in Sumo Wrestling. is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. is a competitive Contact sport where two Wrestlers ( rikishi) attempt to force one another out of a circular ring ( Dohyo) or to touch the ground

In Aztec mythology, Huixtocihuatl was a fertility goddess who presided over salt and salt water. Aztec is a term used to refer to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who achieved political In Aztec mythology, Huixtocihuatl (or Uixtochihuatl, Uixtociuatl) was a fertility goddess who presided over Salt and salt water.

Forms of salt

Unrefined salt

Main articles: Sea salt, Halite, and Fleur de sel

A commercial pack of sea salt

Different natural salts have different mineralities, giving each one a unique flavor. Sea salt, obtained by evaporating Seawater, is used in Cooking and Cosmetics. Halite is the Mineral form of Sodium chloride, Na[[chlorine Cl]] commonly known as rock salt. Fleur de sel ("Flower of salt" in French) is a hand-harvested Sea salt collected by workers who scrape only the top layer of salt before it sinks Fleur de sel, natural sea salt harvested by hand, has a unique flavor varying from region to region. Fleur de sel ("Flower of salt" in French) is a hand-harvested Sea salt collected by workers who scrape only the top layer of salt before it sinks

Some advocates for sea salt assert that unrefined sea salt is more healthy than refined salts. ^[7] However, completely raw sea salt is bitter due to magnesium and calcium compounds, and thus is rarely eaten. The refined salt industry cites scientific studies saying that raw sea and rock salts do not contain enough iodine salts to prevent iodine deficiency diseases. Iodine (ˈaɪədaɪn ˈaɪədɪn or /ˈaɪədiːn/ from ιώδης iodes "violet" is a Chemical element that has the symbol I and Atomic Iodine is an essential Trace element; the Thyroid hormones Thyroxine and Triiodotyronine contain iodine ^[8]

Unrefined sea salts are also commonly used as ingredients in bathing additives^[9] and cosmetic products. One example are bath salts, which uses sea salt as its main ingredient and combined with other ingredients used for its healing and therapeutic effects. The term bath salts refers to a range of water-soluble usually inorganic solid products designed to be added to a bath either to improve cleaning provide a medical improvement Sea salt, obtained by evaporating Seawater, is used in Cooking and Cosmetics.

Refined salt

Salt mounds in Bolivia. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America.

Refined salt, which is most widely used presently, is mainly sodium chloride. Food grade salt accounts for only a small part of salt production in industrialised countries (3% in Europe^[10]) although world-wide, food uses account for 17. 5% of salt production^[11]. The majority is sold for industrial use. Salt has great commercial value, because it is a necessary ingredient in the manufacturing of many things. A few common examples include: the production of pulp and paper, setting dyes in textiles and fabrics, and the making of soaps and detergents.

The manufacture and use of salt is one of the oldest chemical industries. ^[12] Salt is also obtained by evaporation of sea water, usually in shallow basins warmed by sunlight;^[13] salt so obtained was formerly called bay salt, and is now often called sea salt or solar salt. Seawater is Water from a Sea or Ocean. On average seawater in the world's oceans has a Salinity of about 3 Sunlight, in the broad sense is the total spectrum of the Electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. Today, most refined salt is prepared from rock salt: mineral deposits high in salt. These rock salt deposits were formed by the evaporation of ancient salt lakes. ^[14] These deposits may be mined conventionally or through the injection of water. Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body Injected water dissolves the salt, and the brine solution can be pumped to the surface where the salt is collected. Brine (lat saltus) is Water saturated or nearly saturated with Salt (NaCl

After the raw salt is obtained, it is refined to purify it and improve its storage and handling characteristics. Purification usually involves recrystallization. In recrystallization, a brine solution is treated with chemicals that precipitate most impurities (largely magnesium and calcium salts). ^[15] Multiple stages of evaporation are then used to collect pure sodium chloride crystals, which are kiln-dried. Kilns are thermally insulated chambers or Ovens in which controlled temperature regimes are produced

Salt Crystals at Devil's Golf Course in Death Valley National Park. Places of interest in the Death Valley area are mostly located within Death Valley National Park in eastern California. Death Valley National Park is a mostly Arid United States National Park located east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in southern Inyo County

Single-serving salt packets.

Since the 1950s it has been common to add a trace of sodium hexacyanoferrate(II) to the brine; this acts as an anticaking agent by promoting irregular crystals. Anticaking agents are used in such things as table Salt to keep the product from forming lumps making it better for packaging transport and for the consumer ^[16] Other anticaking agents (and potassium iodide, for iodised salt) are generally added after crystallization. Anticaking agents are used in such things as table Salt to keep the product from forming lumps making it better for packaging transport and for the consumer Potassium iodide is an Inorganic compound with formula K[[iodide I]] These agents are hygroscopic chemicals which absorb humidity, keeping the salt crystals from sticking together. Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract Water Molecules from the surrounding environment through either absorption or Adsorption Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air In daily language the term "humidity" is normally taken to mean Relative humidity. Some anticaking agents used are tricalcium phosphate, calcium or magnesium carbonates, fatty acid salts (acid salts), magnesium oxide, silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, sodium alumino-silicate, and alumino-calcium silicate. ΔfH0liquid -9998 kJ / mol ΔfH0solid Calcium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the Chemical formula Ca[[Carbon C]] O 3 Magnesium carbonate, MgCO3 is a white Solid that occurs in nature as a Mineral. In Chemistry, especially Biochemistry, a fatty acid is a Carboxylic acid often with a long unbranched Aliphatic tail ( chain) which Acid salts are a class of salts formed when a dibasic or tribasic Acid has been neutralized to some degree Magnesium oxide, or magnesia, is a white solid Mineral that occurs naturally as Periclase and is a source The Chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica or silox (from the Latin " Silex " is an Oxide Calcium silicates are a set of four compounds obtained by reacting Calcium oxide and silica in various ratios For the Artificial intelligence Androids of the 1990s Science fiction series Space Above and Beyond, see Silicate (AI Concerns have been raised regarding the possible toxic effects of aluminium in the latter two compounds; however, both the European Union and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permit their use. WikipediaNaming ^[17] The refined salt is then ready for packing and distribution.

Table salt

Table salt is refined salt, 99% sodium chloride. For sodium chloride in the diet see Salt. Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or Halite, is a ^[18][19] It usually contains substances that make it free flowing (anticaking agents) such as sodium silicoaluminate or magnesium carbonate. It is common practice to put a few grains of uncooked rice or half a dry cracker (such as Saltine) in salt shakers to absorb extra moisture when anticaking agents are not enough. Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many Whereas pure NaCl has a density of 2. 165 gm/cc, table salt has a density of 1. 22 gm/cc.

Salty condiments

In many East Asian cultures, salt is not traditionally used as a condiment. ^[20] However, condiments such as soy sauce, fish sauce and oyster sauce tend to have a high salt content and fill much the same role as a salt-providing table condiment that table salt serves in western cultures. Soy sauce ( US) soya sauce ( Commonwealth) shoyu ( Japan) or sillao ( Peru) is a fermented Sauce Fish sauce is a Condiment that is derived from fish that have been allowed to ferment. Oyster sauce is a Viscous dark brown Sauce commonly

Additives

See also: History of iodised salt

Iodized salt (BrE: iodised salt) is table salt mixed with a minute amount of potassium iodide, sodium iodide, or iodate. British English or UK English ( BrE, BE, en-GB) is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the Potassium iodide is an Inorganic compound with formula K[[iodide I]] Sodium iodide is a white Crystalline Salt with Chemical formula Na[[Iodine I]] used in radiation detection treatment of Iodine deficiency Sodium iodate ( Na[[Iodine I]] O3) is a Chemical compound. Sodium iodate is an Oxidizing agent and as such it can cause fires Iodized salt is used to help reduce the chance of iodine deficiency in humans. Iodine is an essential Trace element; the Thyroid hormones Thyroxine and Triiodotyronine contain iodine Iodine deficiency commonly leads to thyroid gland problems, specifically endemic goiter. The thyroid is one of the largest Endocrine glands in the body A goitre ( BrE) or goiter ( AmE) ( Latin struma) also called a bronchocele, is a swelling in the neck (just below the Endemic goiter is a disease characterized by a swelling of the thyroid gland, usually resulting in a bulbous protrusion on the neck. While only tiny quantities of iodine are required in a diet to prevent goiter, the United States Food and Drug Administration recommends (21 CFR 101. This article is primarily about the human diet For a discussion of animal diets see List of feeding behaviours. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the 9 (c)(8)(iv)) 150 micrograms of iodine per day for both men and women, and there are many places around the world where natural levels of iodine in the soil are low and the iodine is not taken up by vegetables. Soil, often typeset as SOiL, is a four piece rock band from Chicago Illinois United States founded by Shaun Glass Tom Schofield Tim King and Adam Zadel

Today, iodized salt is more common in the United States, Australia and New Zealand than in the United Kingdom. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Table salt is also often iodized—a small amount of potassium iodide (in the US) or potassium iodate (in the EU) is added as an important dietary supplement. Potassium iodide is an Inorganic compound with formula K[[iodide I]] Potassium iodate ( K[[Iodine I]] O3) is a Chemical compound. It is sometimes used in radiation treatment as it can replace radioactive iodine Table salt is mainly employed in cooking and as a table condiment. Iodized table salt has significantly reduced disorders of iodine deficiency in countries where it is used. Iodine is an essential Trace element; the Thyroid hormones Thyroxine and Triiodotyronine contain iodine ^[21] Iodine is important to prevent the insufficient production of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism), which can cause goitre, cretinism in children, and myxedema in adults. Hypothyroidism is the disease state in humans and animals caused by insufficient production of Thyroid hormone by the Thyroid gland. A goitre ( BrE) or goiter ( AmE) ( Latin struma) also called a bronchocele, is a swelling in the neck (just below the This article is about the medical term For the Marxist political concept see Parliamentary cretinism. Myxedema (British English myxoedema) is a skin and tissue disorder usually due to severe prolonged Hypothyroidism.

The amount of iodine and the specific iodine compound added to salt varies from country to country. In the United States, iodized salt contains 46-77 ppm, while in the UK the iodine content of iodized salt is recommended to be 10-22 ppm. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[22]

In some European countries where drinking water fluoridation is not practiced, fluorinated table salt is available. Water fluoridation is the addition of a chemical to increase the concentration of Fluoride Ions in Drinking water with the purpose of reducing the In France, 35% of sold table salt contains either sodium fluoride or potassium fluoride. Sodium fluoride is the Chemical compound with the formula NaF Potassium fluoride is the Chemical compound with the formula KF ^[23] Another additive, especially important for pregnant women, is Folic acid (Vitamin B9), which gives the table salt a yellow color. Pregnancy ( Latin graviditas) is the carrying of one or more offspring known as a Fetus or Embryo, inside the Uterus of a Female Folic acid (also known as Vitamin M and Folacin) and Folate (the Anionic form are forms of the water-soluble Vitamin B9

In Canada, at least one brand (Windsor salt) contains invert sugar. Inverted sugar syrup is a Sucrose -based Syrup produced with the Glycoside hydrolase Enzyme Invertase or an Acid, which The reason for this is unclear.

Health effects

Sodium is one of the primary electrolytes in the body. Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 An electrolyte is any substance containing free Ions that behaves as an electrically conductive medium All four cationic electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) are available in unrefined salt, as are other vital minerals needed for optimal bodily function. Too much or too little salt in the diet can lead to muscle cramps, dizziness, or even an electrolyte disturbance, which can cause severe, even fatal, neurological problems. Cramps, sometimes called Charley horses are unpleasant often painful sensations caused by contraction or over shortening of Muscles Cramps can be caused by cold Many different terms are often used to describe what is collectively known as dizziness. Electrolytes play a vital role in maintaining Homeostasis within the body ^[24] Drinking too much water, with insufficient salt intake, puts a person at risk of water intoxication (hyponatremia). Water intoxication (also known as hyperhydration or water poisoning) is a potentially fatal disturbance in Brain functions that results when the Hyponatremia ( British: hyponatraemia) is an Electrolyte disturbance (disturbance of the salts in the blood in which the Sodium ( Natrium Salt is even sometimes used as a health aid, such as in treatment of dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is any disease or malfunction of the Autonomic nervous system. ^[25]

People's risk for disease due to insufficient or excessive salt intake varies due to biochemical individuality. Some have asserted that while the risks of consuming too much salt are real, the risks have been exaggerated for most people, or that the studies done on the consumption of salt can be interpreted in many different ways. ^{[26] [27]}

Excess salt consumption has been linked to:

• exercise-induced asthma. Asthma is a chronic Condition involving the Respiratory system in which the airways occasionally constrict become inflamed, and are ^[28] On the other hand, another source counters, "…we still don't know whether salt contributes to asthma. If there is a link then it's very weak…". ^[29]
• heartburn^[30]. Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful or burning sensation in the Esophagus, just below the breastbone usually associated with regurgitation of gastric acid
• osteoporosis: One report shows that a high salt diet does reduce bone density in girls. Osteoporosis is a Disease of Bone that leads to an increased risk of fracture. ^[31]. Yet "While high salt intakes have been associated with detrimental effects on bone health, there are insufficient data to draw firm conclusions. " (^[32], p3)
• Gastric cancer (Stomach cancer) is associated with high levels of sodium, "but the evidence does not generally relate to foods typically consumed in the UK. Stomach or gastric cancer can develop in any part of the Stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs particularly the Esophagus and " (^[32], p18) However, in Japan, salt consumption is higher. ^[33]
• hypertension (high blood pressure): "Since 1994, the evidence of an association between dietary salt intakes and blood pressure has increased. Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the Blood pressure is chronically elevated The data have been consistent in various study populations and across the age range in adults. " (^[32] p3). A large scale study from 2007 has shown that people with high-normal blood pressure who significantly reduced the amount of salt in their diet decreased their chances of developing cardiovascular disease by 25% over the following 10 to 15 years. Their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease decreased by 20%. ^[34]
• left ventricular hypertrophy (cardiac enlargement): "Evidence suggests that high salt intake causes left ventricular hypertrophy, a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease, independently of blood pressure effects. Left ventricular hypertrophy ( LVH) is the thickening of the Myocardium (muscle of the Left ventricle of the Heart. " (^[32] p3) "…there is accumulating evidence that high salt intake predicts left ventricular hypertrophy. " (^[35], p12) Excessive salt (sodium) intake, combined with an inadequate intake of water, can cause hypernatremia. Hypernatremia is an Electrolyte disturbance that is defined by an elevated Sodium level in the blood It can exacerbate renal disease. The kidneys are complicated organs that have numerous biological roles ^[24]
• edema (BE: oedema): A decrease in salt intake has been suggested to treat edema (fluid retention). Oedema (or Edema in American English formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is the increase of Interstitial fluid in any organ &mdash swelling British English or UK English ( BrE, BE, en-GB) is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the ^[36][24]
• duodenal ulcers and gastric ulcers^[37]
• Death. A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is an Ulcer (defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0 A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is an Ulcer (defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0 Death is the termination of the biological functions that define living Organisms It refers both to a specific Ingestion of large amounts of salt in a short time (about 1 g per kg of body weight) can be fatal. Salt solutions have been used in China as a traditional suicide method, and deaths have also resulted from attempted use of salt solutions as emetics, forced salt intake, and accidental confusion of salt with sugar in child food. Vomiting (also called throwing up, emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's Stomach through the Mouth and sometimes the ^[38]

Sea salt (an unrefined form of salt made by evaporating sea water) is often sold for use as a condiment. Because it contains trace amounts of other minerals which are removed in the refining process, it may have health advantages over normal table salt. ^[39] Certain sea salts are also used in the production of bath salts and cosmetic products. The term bath salts refers to a range of water-soluble usually inorganic solid products designed to be added to a bath either to improve cleaning provide a medical improvement ^[40]

Rock and sea salt is usually referred and sold as Natrum Muriaticum in homeopathy, and purported by followers to be a deep acting and powerful curative when taken over long periods of time. This article has been the subject of edit wars and has been placed on probation

Some isolated cultures, such as the Yanomami in South America, have been found to consume little salt, possibly an adaptation originated in the predominantly vegetarian diet of human primate ancestors. The Ya̧nomamö are a large population of native people in South America. ^[41]

Recommended intake

Sea salt and peppercorns.

A salt mill for sea salt.

In the United Kingdom the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommended in 2003 that, for a typical adult, the Reference Nutrient Intake is 4 g salt per day (1. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located 6 g or 70 mmol sodium). However, average adult intake is two and a half times the Reference Nutrient Intake for sodium. SACN states, "The target salt intakes set for adults and children do not represent ideal or optimum consumption levels, but achievable population goals. "^[32] The Food Safety Authority of Ireland endorses the UK targets. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. ^[35]

Health Canada recommends an Adequate Intake (AI) and an Upper Limit (UL) in terms of sodium,^[42] as does the Auckland District Health Board in New Zealand. Health Canada ( French: Santé Canada) is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national Public health New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island ^[43]. Australia defines a recommended dietary intake (RDI) of 0. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. 92 g–2. 3 g sodium per day (= 2. 3 g–5. 8 g salt). ^[44]

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration itself does not make a recommendation,^[45] but refers readers to Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the These suggest that US citizens should consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium (= 2. 3 g sodium = 5. 8 g salt) per day. ^[46]

Labeling

UK: The Food Standards Agency defines the level of salt in foods as follows: "High is more than 1. The Food Standards Agency is a Non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom. 5g salt per 100g (or 0. 6g sodium). Low is 0. 3g salt or less per 100g (or 0. 1g sodium). If the amount of salt per 100g is in between these figures, then that is a medium level of salt. " In the UK, foods produced by some supermarkets and manufacturers have ‘traffic light’ colors on the front of the pack: Red (High), Amber (Medium), or Green (Low). ^[47]

USA: The FDA Food Labeling Guide stipulates whether a food can be labelled as "free", "low", or "reduced/less" in respect of sodium. When other health claims are made about a food (e. g. low in fat, calories, etc. ), a disclosure statement is required if the food exceeds 480mg of sodium per 'serving. '^[48]

Campaigns

In 2004, Britain's Food Standards Agency started a public health campaign called "Salt - Watch it", which recommends no more than 6g of salt per day; it features a character called Sid the Slug and was criticised by the Salt Manufacturers Association (SMA). The Food Standards Agency is a Non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom. Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts and informed choices of society organisations Sid the Slug is an Advertising character employed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA in the United Kingdom as the face of the "Salt - Watch it" ^[49] The Advertising Standards Authority did not uphold the SMA complaint in its adjudication. ^[50]. In March 2007, the FSA launched the third phase of their campaign with the slogan "Salt. Is your food full of it?" fronted by comedienne Jenny Eclair. Jenny Eclair (born Jenny Clare Hargreaves on 16 March 1960 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — then Malaya) is a Comedienne ^[51]

The Menzies Research Institute in Tasmania, Australia, maintains a website ^[52] dedicated to educating people about the potential problems of a salt-laden diet.

Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH)^[53] established in 1996, actively campaigns to raise awareness of the harmful health effects of salt. The 2008 focus includes raising awareness of high levels of salt hidden in sweet foods and marketed towards children. ^[54]

Salt substitutes

Main article: Salt substitute

Salt intake can be reduced by simply reducing the quantity of salty foods in a diet, without recourse to salt substitutes. High intake of table salt ( Sodium chloride) is associated with high blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease Salt substitutes have a taste similar to table salt and contain mostly potassium chloride, which will increase potassium intake. The Chemical compound potassium chloride (KCl is a Metal Halide salt composed of Potassium and Chlorine. Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 Excess potassium intake can cause hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia ( AE) or Hyperkalaemia ( BE) is an elevated blood level of the Electrolyte Potassium. Various diseases and medications may decrease the body's excretion of potassium, thereby increasing the risk of hyperkalemia. Medication, also referred to as medicine, can be loosely defined as any substance intended for use in the diagnosis cure mitigation treatment or prevention of disease If you have kidney failure, heart failure or diabetes, seek medical advice before using a salt substitute. A manufacturer, LoSalt, has issued an advisory statement^[55] that people taking the following prescription drugs should not use a salt substitute: Amiloride, Triamterene, Dytac, Spironolactone (Brand name Aldactone), Eplerenone and Inspra. Amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic, first approved for use in 1967 (then known as MK 870 used in the management of Hypertension and Congestive Triamterene (trade name Dyrenium) is a Potassium-sparing diuretic used in combination with Thiazide diuretics for the treatment of Hypertension Spironolactone (marketed under the trade names Aldactone, Novo-Spiroton, Spiractin, Spirotone, Verospiron or Berlactone Eplerenone ( INN) (ɛpˈlɛrənoʊn is an Aldosterone antagonist used as an adjunct in the management of Chronic heart failure. Eplerenone ( INN) (ɛpˈlɛrənoʊn is an Aldosterone antagonist used as an adjunct in the management of Chronic heart failure.

Production trends

Salt output in 2005

Salt is produced by evaporation of seawater or brine from other sources, such as brine wells and salt lakes, and by mining rock salt, called halite. Evaporation is the process by which Molecules in a Liquid state (e Seawater is Water from a Sea or Ocean. On average seawater in the world's oceans has a Salinity of about 3 Brine (lat saltus) is Water saturated or nearly saturated with Salt (NaCl The salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of Water which has a concentration of Salts (mostly Sodium chloride) and other minerals significantly A salt mine is an operation involved in the extraction of salt from Rock salt or halite a type of evaporitic deposit Halite is the Mineral form of Sodium chloride, Na[[chlorine Cl]] commonly known as rock salt. In 2002, total world production was estimated at 210 million tonnes, the top five producers being the United States (40. This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. 3 million tonnes), China (32. 9), Germany (17. 7), India (14. 5), and Canada (12. 3). ^[56] Note that these figures are not just for table salt but for sodium chloride in general.

See also

A ship loading salt from a terminal.

Notes

References

• Kurlansky, Mark (2002), Salt: A World History, New York: Walker & Co. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document. , ISBN 0802713734 .
• Barber, Elizabeth Wayland (1999), The Mummies of Ürümchi, New York: W. W. Norton & Co. , ISBN 0393320197 .

Further reading

• Kurlansky, Mark, and S. D. Schindler. The Story of Salt. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2006. ISBN 0399239987 -- a children's book about salt.
• Laszlo, Pierre. Salt: Grain of Life. Arts and traditions of the table. New York: Columbia University Press, 2001.
• Department of Health, Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the UK: Report of the Panel on DRVs of the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy , The Stationery Office.

External links

• 10 +1 Things you may not know about salt, by Ellen Gooch, Epikouria Magazine, Fall/Winter 2006
• Salt production methods and practices
• Salt Institute
• Cook's Thesaurus: Salt (Summary and descriptions of edible salts)

Salt and health

Government bodies

Many other government bodies are listed in the References section above.

• Ireland: Food Safety Authority of Ireland Salt and Health
• UK: Food Standards Agency Salt campaign
• UK: Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) Salt and Health (PDF) and Salt Subgroup minutes
• UK: Why 6g? A summary of the scientific evidence for the salt intake target

Medical authorities

• The Cochrane Collaboration "Effect of longer-term modest salt reduction on blood pressure"
• Menzies Research Institute Salt Matters Web Site

Charities and campaigns

• British Nutrition Foundation article "Salt in the Diet"
• Consensus Action on Salt and Health (UK charity)
• Action on Salt and Health
• CSPI page Salt: The Forgotten Killer
• Irish Heart Foundation booklet Time to cut down on salt (PDF format)

Journalism

• BBC article "Salt: friend or foe?"
• BBC medical notes "Salt"
• Guardian article The sceptic
• Ockham's Razor Salt matters - talk by Dr Trevor Beard, Menzies Research Institute (ABC Radio National 4th February 2007)

Salt industry

• EuSalt Position papers
• LoSalt (salt substitute manufacturer)
• Salt Manufacturers' Association Salt and health
• Salt Institute Sodium and health

• ^  Bloch, David: Economics of NaCl: Salt made the world go round. ABC Radio National is an Australia-wide Radio network broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation with many various programs involving News and