Common salt, also known as sodium chloride, is an omnipresent ingredient used for seasoning in everyday foods. It is available in a range of diverse forms and particles, depending on the proposed use. Along with its culinary usage, it is also used as a food preservative.
The salt/water ratio is critical for the metabolic rate of our body. Sodium facilitates sending signals to our nerves and muscles and helps sustain the fluid content inside and outside the blood cells. The salt concentration in a solution used by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) to cleanse wounds is the same as is present in human blood i.e. 0.9% sodium chloride. Dietary salt exists in various forms: unrefined, refined (also known as table salt) and iodine-fortified salt. [1]
Health Benefits of Salt
Salt offers a variety of health benefits, which are explained below.
Prevents Iodine Deficiency
Iodized salt is one of the most common sources of iodine. Iodine is vital for manufacturing the thyroid hormone. It is a very important part of our diet, as the body does not naturally produce iodine. Without adequate amounts of iodine, the thyroid enlarges in an attempt to keep up with the body’s demand for thyroid hormone. This may result in serious conditions like the development of goiter or hypothyroidism. [3] [4] [5]
The body also requires thyroid hormones for the appropriate development of the brain and bone structure during pregnancy and the early development years of young children. If the expectant or the lactating mothers are iodine deficient, the children can suffer from an intellectual disability, formerly known as mental retardation. An adequate intake of iodized salt can prevent such deficiencies and fatal results. [6]
Oral Rehydration
Salt is essential for sustaining the hydration levels of the body. It is extremely vital to maintain the electrolyte balance for the smooth functioning of the organs. These electrolytes primarily entail magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium. [7]
For people who work outside and especially those who regularly workout, it is crucial to recover both salt and water shortages that occur through perspiration. When the body is dehydrated and diseases like diarrhea weaken the system, doctors advise using a blend of water, sugar, and salt to compensate for the lost fluids. This solution is as effective as Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). [8] [9]
Seal salt makes your salad crunchier and tastier. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Improves Cardiovascular Health
It has been proven that dietary salt determines the blood pressure of the body and has an impact on cardiovascular health. High blood pressure or hypertension is a major cause of such events. Inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium, and sodium can cause health issues. Controlling the intensity of your salt intake often affects the blood pressure. [10]
Low blood pressure ( a reading below 90/60) can be managed by consuming more salt and hydrating fluids. This will help boost the volume of blood in the arteries, resulting in a rise in blood pressure. [11]
Manages Diabetes
Healthy levels of insulin are required to maintain a fit body. Diets with low levels of salt can weaken the body’s sensitivity towards insulin. This reduces the body’s ability to metabolize glucose, providing poor levels of energy to the liver, muscles, and nervous system, possibly leading to type 2 diabetes. [12]
Intravenous Saline IV Solution
Patients suffering from conditions like acute diarrhea are given medication intravenously. When it is not possible to consume anything orally, saline IV solution is administered in the hospitals to bring back optimum hydration levels of the body’s cells. [13]
Ensures Healthy Pregnancy
Pregnant mothers are required to ensure a healthy diet in order to keep their own body and the developing baby healthy. Along with other dietary needs, adequate salt intake is recommended by doctors to maintain good health. [14]
Prevents Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia is a condition in which the body suffers from a shortage of sodium (salt) in the fluids present outside the cells. This can be caused by over-hydration with water, perspiration, or diarrhea, and is also known as water intoxication. [15]
To maintain healthy blood pressure and smooth functioning of your nerves and muscles, the body needs an adequate amount of sodium. When this optimum level of sodium falls, water enters the cells to compensate. This results in an imbalance of water to the salt ratio in the body, causing swelling in the cells because of excess water.
Barring brain cells, this swelling is not a threat for most of the cells, but since the brain cells are restricted inside the skull-frame, this swelling in the brain cells leads to hyponatremia.
May Aid in Treating Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is caused by a malformed protein that prevents the optimum movement of salt and water in and out of the body’s cells, resulting in very sticky, salty sweat. This can be tested by diagnosing the salt content of the perspiration. In cystic fibrosis, the body loses more salt than normal. Infants suffering from cystic fibrosis need extra salt as both infant milk and breast milk is low in sodium. The salt content should be cautiously increased only after a discussion with a specialist. [16] [17] [18]
Maintains Dental Hygiene
Painful bacterial infections like trench mouth can cause ulcers in the gums, which can be subsided using a saltwater rinse. The rinse can be prepared by mixing 1/2 teaspoon of salt mixed with 1 cup of warm water. It helps reduce swelling and soothes sore gums. As a preventive oral hygiene measure, cleaning the teeth with a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and baking soda in 1 qt. of warm water helps clean plaque, whiten the teeth, and keep the gums healthy. [19] [20]
Treats Sore Throat
Pharyngitis, commonly known as a sore throat, can be alleviated by repeated gargling with a cup of warm water mixed with ½ teaspoon of salt. [21]
Relieves Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps can occur due to various reasons such as alcoholism, exercise, or medications. The intake of fluids and drinks that contain salt can be helpful in providing relief. [22]
Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Research studies indicate that the use of nasal irrigation using saline or salt water helps in treating nasal and sinus problems. [23]
Other Benefits
Soaking your tired feet in warm water mixed with salt helps in relieving pain. It is good for skin exfoliation as well because it removes dead skin particles.
How much of Salt Intake is Healthy?
Doctors recommend no more than 6 grams of dietary salt (i.e. 2.5 grams of sodium) on a daily basis. This makes it approx. 1 teaspoon of salt per day. A good amount of that (about 75%) is already present in processed meats, breakfast cereals, and bread. Babies less than one year should not consume more than 1 gram of salt, whereas the recommended intake for young children changes as they grow bigger. [24] [25]
Some food labels only display the sodium content present in the food item. However, you can calculate the salt content by using an easy formula to find out how much actual salt you are eating in the disguise of sodium. Salt content in the food item = 2.5 * (sodium content) [26]
- If the amount of salt per 100-gram serving is more than 1.5 grams i.e. 0.6-gram sodium, then it is considered to have a high salt content.
- If the amount of salt per 100 gram serving is less than 0.3 grams i.e. 0.1 gram sodium, then it is considered to have a low salt content.
Some foods with high salt content are tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, and anchovies.
It can either benefit or harm an individual, depending on their age and condition. A recent study suggests that intake of a high-salt diet increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetics so it is advisable to opt for a low salt diet in case of diabetes. [27] One needs to be very cautious about its use in order to maintain a healthy body since both the excess and shortage of salt have their respective consequences.
