Uses Of Salt In Our Daily Life

Uses Of Salt In Our Daily Life – Salt plays a key role in keeping your body working well, but most Americans eat too much of it. Getty Images:

Life without salt would be pretty bland. Not only is this crystal one of the most common food ingredients, but it also plays an important role in health, even if much of what is said about salt is negative. Learn more about this mineral, its history, health benefits, and why so many people crave it, and you just might start enjoying salt more on all levels.

Uses Of Salt In Our Daily Life

Salt or sodium chloride is a mineral of great importance for human health. Most of the salt people consume comes from evaporated seawater or is mined from deep within the earth, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

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For some people, salt is nothing more than an ingredient in their favorite dishes. But salt doesn’t just add flavor to foods. The body needs salt, and it plays an important role in preserving food because bacteria cannot live in a salt-rich environment, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Also, salting foods like meat and fish to preserve them leaches out water, removing water as a source of nutrients for microbes and keeping it fresher longer, according to the book Salt in the Earth (PDF).

You may use the terms sodium and salt interchangeably, but there are differences between them. Sodium is one of the elements that make up salt. Salt is a natural mineral that consists of two elements: sodium and chloride. Salt is about 40 percent sodium and 60 percent chloride, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 1 teaspoon of table salt contains 2,330 mg of sodium and trace amounts or less of other nutrients.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (PDF) recommends 2,300 mg or less of sodium per day for adults. Americans exceed that, but consume an average of about 3,400 mg of sodium per day.

It’s a good idea to watch the amount of salt in your diet as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. People over the age of 14 should consume no more than 2,300 mg per day. But don’t avoid salt completely, as this mineral plays an important role in how your body functions. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), you need at least 500 mg of sodium (a little less than ¼ teaspoon) per day. If the level of sodium in your blood is too low, called hypnotremia, it can be dangerous. Here’s why you need salt in your diet.

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Your thyroid gland plays an important role in metabolism. But for your thyroid to function properly, your body needs the mineral iodine, which is found in many foods. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), iodine deficiency prevents your body from producing enough thyroid hormone. Deficiency symptoms include an enlarged thyroid gland, constipation, difficulty thinking, fatigue, and sensitivity to cold. Because iodine is also added to many salts (those labeled “iodized”), having some iodized salt in your diet can help your thyroid function properly, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. According to the NIH, processed foods and specialty salts usually do not contain iodine.

Sodium also promotes healthy hydration levels and electrolyte balance, which your body needs to function properly. Your cells, muscles and tissues need water, and salt helps these parts of your body retain the right amount of fluid, according to the Mayo Clinic. A diet too low in sodium can increase the risk of dehydration.

People living with cystic fibrosis lose more salt in sweat than the average person. They need more water and salt in their diet to avoid dehydration, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. If you have this condition, check with your doctor to see how much salt you need per day based on your activity level.

Now that you know how salt can help you, here’s a look at how much salt can harm you.

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If you eat too much salt, your kidneys may not be able to filter the excess sodium from your bloodstream. Sodium builds up in your system, and your body retains extra water in an attempt to dilute the sodium, according to research published in Nutrients in September 2019. This can cause water retention and bloating.

Excess salt can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure in some people, according to a September 2020 article in Pediatric Nephrology.

A meal high in salt can make you feel thirsty later in the day as your body tries to correct the imbalance in water and sodium levels, reports

Eating a high-salt diet long-term can put you at risk for certain health conditions.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive sodium intake increases blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the risk of heart disease is higher when a high-sodium diet is accompanied by a low-potassium diet. This is because potassium helps your body flush sodium and helps relax blood vessels.

The more salt you eat, the more calcium your body loses through urination. And unfortunately, if you don’t get enough calcium in your diet, your body will take it from your bones, increasing your risk of problems like osteoporosis, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

There is also evidence that a high-salt diet increases the risk of stomach cancer, according to a study published in March 2022 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

Even if you know how important it is to cut back on sodium intake, that’s easier said than done when you’re constantly craving salty foods. It may come as a shock, but salt is addictive. Foods high in sodium are linked to addictive-like behaviors, according to research published in the May 2021 issue of Psychological Reports. So the more salty foods you eat, the more you may crave them. This may explain why it is difficult to eat just one chip.

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Remember that salt cravings can also be a sign of a medical problem. According to the Mayo Clinic, you may have adrenal insufficiency caused by Addison’s disease or a rare kidney problem called Bartter syndrome. Consult your doctor if cravings persist or worsen.

“It drives me crazy on food shows where they put salt on dishes like they’re feeding chickens on a farm,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, creator and author of BetterThanDieting.com.

. Here are some tips from Taub-Dix, the Mayo Clinic and the AHA to help you cut back and eat less salt:

In the mood for something salty? There’s nothing wrong with indulging a craving once in a while. Just make sure you choose healthier or lower-salt snacks and limit portions of healthy foods that are higher in salt. For example, Taub-Dix suggests:

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Salt can add flavor to dishes and preserve food, but what else can it do outside the kitchen? Here are just a few tips from the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection:

Salt is an essential mineral that has a variety of uses both in and out of the kitchen. Being careful about the amount of salt in your diet can help you avoid some health complications and allow you to enjoy the many uses and flavors of salt in moderation.

Not getting enough salt in your diet has been linked to low blood pressure, thyroid problems and dehydration. Salt is also necessary to maintain the correct fluid balance in the body.

According to the American Heart Association, you should keep your sodium intake below 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day, which you can get from a little less than a tablespoon of table salt. And no more than 1,500 mg per day is ideal for most adults.

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Sea salt comes from the ocean or salt water lakes and is collected from evaporated water. Table salt is usually mined and contains more additives such as iodine. Both types contain the same amount of sodium.

No. Salt is made up of sodium and chloride, so salt contains sodium. When you eat salt or foods containing salt, you consume sodium.

Possible causes of a salty taste in the mouth include dry mouth, dehydration, acid reflux, medications, postnasal drip, and nutritional deficiencies. Drink more water to see if that helps with the taste. If you have a change in taste, contact your doctor.

Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, which are outlined in our editorial policy. We use only reliable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, live patient experience, and information from top institutions.

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