(USNewsReport.org) – Salt has been a staple in kitchens around the world. Although, what many people don’t realize is that these tiny grains are helpful in a number of ways. Despite it being described as a “bad guy” for years, here are some reasons why salt is actually good for you.
Our Bodies
Believe it or not, our bodies need salt to survive. In fact, the adult body contains about 250g of salt; the body excretes anything over that threshold. Now, you may wonder how salt could be so important. Well, for one, our body needs sodium as it cannot produce the element itself. Sodium is necessary for the body to perform vital functions and is found within the bodily fluids that transport oxygen and nutrients.
Like potassium, calcium and magnesium, sodium is an electrolyte, which regulates electrical charges moving in and out of the body’s cells. Sodium also allows for the transmission of nerve impulses throughout the body and is vital to muscle contractions, playing a significant role in sending and receiving signals from the brain.
The second half of salt, chlorine, is also important to the body as it’s essential to the digestive system. Along with aiding in the absorption of potassium, chlorine is a major part of the gastric juices within our stomachs, also being a key ingredient in hydrochloric acid. Not only does this acid help us digest our food, but it also controls the amount of bacteria in the stomach. In addition, chlorine aids the blood in transporting carbon dioxide from the lungs.
Preservation
A technique humans have used for thousands of years and likely still use in certain cultures today is preserving meat with salt. There is a misconception that you need curing salt to process meat; table salt can work as an effective substitute. In fact, if done properly, you can store food in salt, keeping it fresh for extended amounts of time, even without refrigeration. After all, fridges certainly haven’t been around for thousands of years.
Now, these aren’t the only uses for this common resource. There are likely hundreds, if not more, ways you can use salt. For example, salt is a great way to clean certain items and surfaces. Of course, storing salt can be tricky as it needs storage in a very cool, dry and dark place to avoid becoming solid. Because salt is corrosive, be sure to store it in an approved container. The last thing you want is for it to become unsealed and get ruined.
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