Danger And Benefits Of Salt

Let’s get to the point; danger and benefits of salt. Perhaps, the most important use of salt is the saline solution commonly used in hospitals. Salt is like the proverbial “double-edged sword”. Use it sparingly, the benefits are a plenty. However, if you overuse it, you are in danger. Life will be tasteless without salt. However, if you are addicted to too much salt, your life may become lifeless! For us Asians, there is an increased danger in the forms of soy sauce and hundreds of other “salt-preserved” or “salt-related” foodstuffs. How much salt intake is considered excessive? In 1994, the British health authority set the limit of daily maximum salt intake at 6 grams.

Everyone knows what salt is. So I shall not waste your time describing salt, but will just add a few words on the different types of salt. Unrefined salt is natural salt either from sea water (sea salt) or from rock deposits. Refined salt is the common table salt that is cheaper. The third is iodized salt, with iodine-containing compounds added to table salt. The recommended salt for consumption is either sea salt or rock salt, which are both more expensive than the common table salt.

Let’s start with the danger of salt.

Excessive intake of salt may lead to asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension, stomach cancer, osteoporosis and kidney stones. It is believed that one’s memory and intelligence may be adversely affected with too much salt intake.

When excessive amount of salt is taken, the body retains more water, thereby increasing the blood pressure straining the kidneys, arteries, heart and brain. The long term effect of a high blood pressure will mean higher risks to heart attack, stroke, dementia and kidney disease.

So please cut down on salt consumption.

Table salt is processed to give it a fine texture and to remove other trace elements which are minimal in the first place. Another version of table salt is iodised salt with added iodine. Table salt has additives to prevent clumping or caking.

Natural salts are sea salt and rock salt in their natural state without or with little processing and without additives added. This means natural salt retains its trace elements like magnesium, potassium and calcium, although in very minimal amount.

The important point to note is that whatever type of salt, the sodium content is the same, and that is 40%. Since the intake of salt is of small quantity, I don’t think the type of salt we take will make a great impact on our health. It is the amount of salt that matters. Since I use only very small quantity of salt, I choose natural salt although the price is much higher. You never know what additives they use on processed salt nowadays.

Now that you are aware of the danger of salt, let us take a look at the usefulness of salts.

· To sweep off spilt egg on the floor, sprinkle some salt on the egg and after a while you will be able to easily sweep up the mess.

· Sprinkle salt to keep ants away.

· Soak fish in salt water for easy descaling.

· Sprinkle salt on green salads to keep them fresh.

· Fresh egg sinks in salt water, while rotten one floats.

· If you add a little salt to the water while boiling eggs, any cracked egg will not spill out.

· Cut flowers will last longer if placed in salt water.

· Wash vegetables in salt water for easier removal of dirt.

· Prevent discoloring of peeled fruits especially apples, by dipping them in salt water.

· For easy oven cleaning sprinkle salt before cleaning.

· For mouth hygiene, gargle warm salt water after brushing teeth in the evening.

· Gargle warm salt water intermittently to prevent flu or cure sore throat.

· Use salt treatment to cure coughs. Click HERE and HERE.