A mineral that is primarily composed of Sodium chloride is called salt. The mineral salt naturally comes in a crystalline form. This mineral happens to be a common culinary ingredient in every cuisine. Salt possesses a lot more function than just adding taste and flavour to a dish. Salt is an essential element required in the human body. It is also used in preserving and conserving food.

The source of salt consumed is mainly seawater. Shallow ponds are constructed which are connected to the sea through manufactured canals. The pond is filled with seawater and is allowed to evaporate naturally, and the water slowly disappears in the process and leaves behind the salt content in it.

Sometimes salt is also collected from deep mines under the earth. This form of salt is called rock salt. Rock salt is extracted by cutting or drilling the rock, crushing it into pieces.

History of salt

Before the invention of the refrigerator, salt acted as an essential element in preserving food, especially meat. In ancient times, while hunting, hunters killed in more quantities than they could consume immediately. Therefore they needed to maintain the food and protect it from mold, bacteria and spoilage.

Sprinkled salt absorbed the moisture from the meat or flesh, keeping it fresh for an extended period. In earlier times, the salt helped in the process of mummification too. In ancient civilizations, salt was a highly demanded item. As a result, this mineral was frequently traded and heavily taxed. In the barter system, salt was even used to exchange goods.

Importance of salt in daily life

Irrespective of some adverse effects caused by excessive salt consumption, several factors suggest the importance of salt in our daily lives. It is a mineral that occurs naturally. Again, salt is one of the vital elements of life, which a human body cannot produce. Therefore, consuming a certain amount in a balanced diet is always recommended.

Salt is one of the essential sources of sodium. Opposing several popular beliefs, different studies have concluded low sodium results in heart disease. With less sodium consumption, it excretes at a lower rate from the body. It is observed that this has a direct relationship to coronary heart failure and heart diseases.

Salt plays its part in retaining water in the body. Maintaining the water level is necessary for keeping the blood pressure in range. 

Salt consists of a few significant nutrients which activate several digestive and salivary enzymes. These enzymes are responsible for the absorption of food into the stomach and support proper digestion. When a person suffers from indigestion, one of the reasons may be an inadequate amount of salt in the diet.

The chloride ion content in table salt looks after regulating blood pressure and pH level. The chloride ions perform as an important electrolyte. Chloride in salt also acts as a vital ingredient for producing hydrochloric acid (HCl) or stomach acid. This acid plays an essential function in the digestion of food.

Salt is also required for maintaining a good and proper status of nutrition. One must replenish the sodium and chloride excreted through sweating through a diet.

Health benefits

Physicians make various recommendations regarding the amount of salt to be consumed, and salt contains sodium, an essential element for human health. An adequate amount of salt should always be maintained in the diet, as it comes with a number of health benefits.

• Thyroid: The thyroid plays a vital function in the body’s metabolism. And to make this happen properly, the human body requires the mineral iodine. Iodine is found in various foods. Along with other items, salt is another good source of iodine. Adding iodine to the daily diet helps in the proper functioning of the thyroid.

• Hydration: Salt helps in keeping the human body hydrated. It also contributes to maintaining the electrolyte balance. The right electrolyte level is important for the proper functioning of the organs. Salt helps the muscles, tissues, and every cell of the body maintain an adequate amount of fluid. Without this, it may result in dehydration which follows fatigue, muscle cramps, etc.

• Low Blood Pressure: Improper sodium levels in the human body lead to hypotension or low blood pressure. When blood pressure reading goes below 90/60 mmHg, blood pressure is assessed as low. Low blood pressure causes blurry vision, fainting, nausea, etc., which can be checked by salt intake.

• Cystic Fibrosis: People suffering from cystic fibrosis sweat a lot. This results in the elimination of salt from the body in excess amounts. Salt and water are very important elements in their food items for avoiding dehydration. Generally, the physician decides the amount of salt to be consumed in this case.

• Muscle Contraction: Salt is also responsible for nerve stimulation, resulting in the muscles functioning properly. Sodium content in salt plays an intermediate role between the muscles and the brain. The reaction of sodium on nerve cells generates a signal which prompts the muscles for movement or contraction.

Hacks for Selecting and Preserving Salt for the Best Taste

Out of all other spices and seasonings, salt is the only ingredient that brings out the taste and flavour of a dish. The suitable salt adds the right taste to the dish. Varieties of salts are discussed below:

1. Sea salt is a salt with larger crystals. This salt is ideal for diversifying the texture of a meal. 
2. Common Salt or Table Salt has comparatively refined grains. This salt variety is most commonly used. The fine grain crystals of the salt dissolve very quickly. It is pretty aptly used for meat seasoning and adding flavour to any dish. Table salt is generally iodized.
3. Kosher Salt consists of large and flaky textured grains. This salt is generally preferred in seasoning meats like pork chops and steaks. Professional chefs most prefer this salt variety.
4. Himalayan Pink Salt is another salt variant. It is most ideally used for flavoring vegetables, poultry, and fish.
5. Red and Black Hawaiian Sea Salt is made with activated charcoal and volcanic clay. This salt variant is generally used in Hawaiian dishes.
6. Smoked Sea Salt is commonly seen being used in barbecues. It also adds flavors and taste in a kind of dry rub. Smoked sea salts are also sprinkled on salads, vegetables, and popcorn. This salt is also used in sandwiches.
7. Fleur de Sel is a kind of delicate salt. This salt variant is never used for seasoning while cooking a dish. It mainly adds flavour and taste to any cooked meal.
8. Flake Salt is commonly used for preparing a salad or blanched vegetables.
9. Grey Salt is a salt with a greyish hue. It is often used as an ingredient in French recipes.
10. Unseasoned Salt is also a common salt. But this variety does not contain any flavoring, spices or herbs. Unseasoned salts have an infinite shelf life. It is recommended to store this salt in a dry place.

Following are some tips on how salt can be preserved and stored for a more extended period.

• Rice Grain: Salt is stored in a shaker canister in most households. A few added grains of raw rice can prevent the salt from clumping. Rice grains are a good absorber of moisture, and therefore the salt stays dry. Keeping rice grains in salt is recommended as the most effective means. This trick can even revive damp salt.

• Dried Leaves of Parsley: A bed of dried parsley at the bottom of the salt container is another means of keeping salt fresh. The parsley leaves infuse a fresh aroma into the salt. It also prevents the salt from dampening the effect.

• Soda Crackers: Alike rice grains, soda crackers also do the trick of drawing moisture from the salt. A soda cracker is a biscuit made of white flour, baking soda, and yeast. It also prevents salt from hardening and clumping. But the cracker needs to be changed every 15 days.

Some other hacks can be coffee beans and wooden toothpicks. Coffee beans and wooden toothpicks also draw moisture from salt, just like rice grains and soda crackers. Quite surprisingly, the salt doesn’t get flavored from the coffee bean. Cloves can also be used instead of parsley for keeping the salt fresh.

It is always suggested that salts should not be stored in any silver container. Chloride and silver react with each other, and as a result, the salt might turn green.

Reasons Why You Should Check the Label while buying salt

Food labels guarantee the food we purchase and inform us about its nutrients and ingredients.

1. Labels let a buyer understand the composition of the food they are buying. A label informs the buyer about the nutrient contents. Therefore before purchasing salt, one should check the iodine, sodium, and chloride contained in the salt.
2. Labels also inform about the date of manufacture and the expiry date. Buying salt likewise is always recommended.
3. Labels in a salt package inform a buyer regarding how to store them. It is essential for keeping the food product safe.
4. Food labels also inform the quantity of packaging. Buying more salt at a time might lead to waste in the end. Hence the required amount can be purchased by checking the label.
5. Labels also help in preventing fraud who sell counterfeit products. The label shows guarantees from several acknowledged authorities.
6. Food labels inform about the nutrient content in a food packet. Hence it also forms possible allergic reactions from the nutrients.
7. Food labels also indicate the origin of the packaging. In many cases, this attracts the customer’s attention and adds value to the product.

As the older man says, excess spice spoils the bowl; excessive salt consumption might be harmful. Yet salt is an inevitable ingredient, and hence consumption of salt in the right amount is a wise choice.