From time immemorial, mankind has been paying increased attention to such a seemingly simple substance as table salt. Indeed, so many traditions and superstitions are not associated with any food product. People have known salt for about 10 thousand years. There were times when it was called a divine gift and valued more than gold. They fought for deposits of rock salt , and “salt riots” often broke out due to its lack. What is known about this controversial product? What is the calorie content of salt and what are the acceptable norms for daily use? Need to figure it out.
Benefit or harm
On the benefits and dangers of salt, there are the most mixed opinions. What is the calorie content of salt, what is its specific benefit or harm to the body? Such issues are increasingly interested in the mass consumer. Scientists are still puzzling over “what is all the salt”, and huge amounts of money have already been spent on numerous studies. The purpose of one of the experiments was to study the effect of a certain amount of salt on the human body. As a result, it turned out that if consumed in excess, it can negatively affect a person’s vision. This is explained by the fact that when eating salty foods, blood pressure, including eye pressure, can rise.
On the other hand, a decrease in consumption can lead to various cardiovascular abnormalities, the risk of myocardial infarction or stroke. Such serious consequences are caused by a lack of sodium in the body. With a complete rejection of salt, the activity of nerve cells is disrupted, insulin production decreases, and renin, on the contrary, increases. In this regard, a reasonable conclusion suggests itself that everything is good, that in moderation.
Salt as a symbol of vital energy
Salt is not just a food seasoning that can improve the taste of a dish. This is a kind of magical symbol of vital energy, which has the power to ward off troubles and sorrows, the evil eye and all that negatively affects a person. In ancient times, during the offering of sacrificial animals, they were sprinkled with salt so that they would appease the gods with their taste. It has long been considered a guard against evil spirits and evil spells.
Salt, in its ceremonial meaning, combined with bread means financial well-being and wealth, it is not in vain that the bride and groom are blessed with bread and salt. The expression “Bread and salt to you” also serves as a wish for wealth. In modern times, this is how important foreign guests at the government level are welcomed at the airport.
So different salt
Salt is a universal product. An interesting fact is that the calorie content of the salt is zero. There are different types of salt: color (white, pink, black), large stone and extra, as well as iodized, fluorinated, diet, sea. And this is not a complete list. The purpose of the salt is completely different, one type can be salted with salads, the other can be used for canning, the third - for medical purposes for the prevention of diseases.
According to the method of extraction and production, salt can be divided into 4 main types:
- Stone. It is mined in mines and quarries. This is the purest salt with a high sodium chloride content (98-99%) and a minimum amount of moisture.
- Boiling out. Get it from salt sources by evaporation, contains sodium chloride about 98-99.8%.
- Landing (sea). Formed from sea or lake water by evaporation in specially equipped pools. It differs from other species in a lower content of sodium chloride, as well as in taste.
- Self-landing. The least useful for the body due to the low content of sodium chloride, based on the name, it independently settles at the bottom of the salt lake, from where it is then extracted using special equipment.
Salt application
Salt, in other words, sodium chloride, is one of the most important components that are used in the daily life of both humans and animals. Calorie salt is 0 kilocalories. This resource is also used in many areas of industry. Salt is used as the basis for the production of chemical products (chlorine and caustic soda), from which various plastics are made, in particular PVC. In total there are about 14 thousand areas of application of salt.
As for table salt, which everyone consumes, this substance is crystalline sodium chloride, each component of which performs a certain vital function in the human body, despite the fact that the calorie content of the salt is zero. Daily need is 10-15 grams. About seven kilograms are released per year. These indicators also depend on the conditions and type of climate. Water-salt metabolism occurs more intensively in countries with hotter climates.
Salt is the only natural mineral that the human body can absorb. Salt is actively used to preserve various kinds of seals, since the brine has the ability to suspend the activity of bacteria.
Useful properties and salt treatment
Salt (calorie content per 100 grams 0 kcal), has good preventive as well as healing properties. With nasal congestion and a runny nose, you can rinse your nose with a special solution. In pharmacies, there is a wide variety of irrigation preparations, based on plain sea water. With sore throat, rinse (half a teaspoon of salt in half a glass of warm water). Salt also helps with bites of various insects. To do this, prepare the mixture, one to one, and lubricate the bite. Itching and pain go away quickly. At home, salt is simply indispensable for mild poisoning, as it is able to remove poisons and toxins from the body.
Salt is widely used in the so-called balneology. Salt baths treat a large number of various diseases, contribute to the improvement of metabolic processes in the body, remove toxins and toxins. Baths are prescribed for diseases of the spine, arthritis, as well as disorders of the neurovascular system.
From the foregoing, it can be concluded that zero calorie content (edible salt is meant) makes this product incredibly dietary, but unsuitable for use in food in large quantities.