Ingredient Information

Function

In addition to imparting a much-desired flavor to foods, salt is used to extend the shelf life of many foods. As salt concentration increases, bacteria are less able to grow, which slows the process of food spoilage. In this entry, salt refers to sodium chloride. However, other salts like potassium chloride, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and sodium benzoate are also used in foods.

Other Use and Industries

Salt is used in road treatments in winter, paper manufacturing, fabric dyes, soap detergents, and chlorine production, among other applications.

Health Effects

Salt should be limited, particularly for those with heart and kidney health issues. Excessive salt intake has been proven to cause hypertension. Hypertension can put stress on the heart, causing it to work harder than necessary to pump blood through the body. This can result in an enlarged heart, which can less effectively pump blood. In late stages this causes heart failure.

High blood pressure also puts strain on the kidneys, which filter the blood. This increased blood pressure can cause CKD, or chronic kidney disease, in which the kidneys become less able to remove waste from the blood. The remainder of the body is affected as the waste continues to circulate through the blood, causing damage. Hypertension is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke as well.

An increased consumption of salt causes the taste buds to become desensitized, making less salted foods taste bland. Slowly decreasing salt consumption can result in re-sensitization of the taste buds and greater appreciation of other flavors in foods.

Limiting salt consumption to less than 2000mg per day, about one teaspoon, is important for individuals with heart disease, hypertension or kidney disease. Patients with diabetes are more likely to suffer from hypertension. Limiting salt can also be important in pregnancy to avoid a condition known as preeclampsia, high blood pressure that comes about as the pregnancy progresses. The exact cause of preeclampsia is unknown, however, limiting salt intake is one way to help keep blood pressure low. Preeclampsia poses a risk to the unborn child by causing premature delivery and complications in the mother like bleeding problems, liver rupture and stroke. The level of risk depends upon the severity of the condition.

Origins

Salt is either mined from rock salt or evaporated from saltwater sources like ocean water or salt lakes. Sea salt production, un-purified salt, leaves behind trace minerals, which can give the salt a different flavor. The reputed health benefits of sea salt come from the theory that individuals using sea salt will use less because of its stronger flavor. Pound for pound, sea salt and traditional table salt are effectively the same with respect to their ability to cause hypertension.