Salt: A Daily Consumption Commodity, But Do We Know Its Basics?

A DASH OF SALT, ANYONE?

Apart from being a CIA agent who is allegedly accused of being a Russian sleeper cell spy who is constantly on the run to elude capture from her superiors who are under the impression that she is here to assassinate the President — Salt is biblically speaking, an indispensable commodity used by ancient civilizations for a plethora of activities, most of which are jaw-dropping.

Salt, fondly known as table salt or namak(in India) is a mineral compound, chemically known as NaCl (Sodium Chloride.) is by far the biggest source of sodium for the body. It has been playing a lot of significant roles from the past 4700 years of its interesting history. During the Egyptian civilisation, it served as a food preservative and also aided in the mummification of the bodies. Salt plays a paramount role in our lives so much so that it was used as a unit of exchange and was traded for jewels, silk and sometimes even gold by the Arab merchants. It also marked a symbol of friendship, trust and status in the society. Another eye-opening fact, roman soldiers were paid in “salt money.” What makes it more compelling is the word “salary,” takes its etymological root from the word “salarium” meaning “salt.” Delving deeper into the ‘Salty Chronicles’ reveal that it is also used as a seasoning, a disinfectant and a religious symbol.

The minerals found in salt help the human body maintain fluid balance, carry electrical charges and in muscle function. But, the million-dollar question being,” Is it good for us?”, “What happens if I ingest a lot of salt?”, ” Will it be an issue if I under-salt my food items?” We shall give you a comprehensive picture weighing both sides of this crystalline entity which can either make you or break you.

Overconsumption

Dietary prescriptions recommend about 1 tablespoon of sodium per day to be ideal. Records prove that consumption in moderation isn’t detrimental unless you come under the narrow umbrella of the SS group (nope, it has nothing to do with Hitler). People usually above the age of 50 are, “Salt Sensitive (SS)” so are those with high blood pressure. Small changes in consumption lead to exponential disastrous effects.

• Observational studies have revealed that high salt intake has been known to cause gastric cancer or stomach cancer which is apparently the fifth most common form of cancer to take lives.
• The kidneys have to overwork in order to keep up with the increasing sodium content in the bloodstream, this sets off a domino effect. The body starts to hold on to water in order to dilute the sodium which in turn increases the amount of fluid between the cells and volume of blood. This exerts tremendous pressure on the heart via the blood vessels which dramatically culminates as a stroke or a heart attack. Sometimes high blood pressure attributed to overconsumption of salts are hidden in plain sight waiting to take a toll on you.
• Study also reveals that presence of high sodium in our diets can lead kidney stones or osteoporosis. Chronic high salt intake can corrode the stomach lining, making it more susceptible to tumor growth.

Underconsumption

Frugal consumption of salt also leads to few negative health side effects.

• In senile people, mild hyponatremia is a condition where low sodium concentration might cause the electrolyte imbalance in the body to go haywire and hence causing unsteadiness, falls, bone fractures and decrease in cognitive ability. Elderly people on low salt diets often experience a lack of thirst which leads to dehydration and they experience loss of appetite that leads to a host of health problems.
• Serious cases of hyponatremia might cause seizures and coma.
• Early symptoms of having too little salt in the body include fatigue, confusion, headache, nausea, muscle cramps and a loss of appetite.
• According to a US study, consumption of less than 3000 mg of sodium ups the risk of mortality and heart diseases.

Salt intake across India

A quick reality check shows some mind-numbing statistics which puts India on the radar for consuming double the recommended amount of salt; putting them at a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and ultimately, death. WHO states that “the average daily salt intake was 10.98 grams per day for Indians aged above 19 against the WHO recommendation of 5gm.” Also, CVD is the leading cause of mortality in India each year leading to some 2.3 million deaths each year, a quarter of which are attributed to high blood pressure. By 2030 the number of people suffering from high blood pressure in India is set to nearly double to 213 million. With imminent danger looming ahead, these alarming numbers need to be brought down by having more engaging and open conversations about this epidemic of sorts. Impetuous attitude shown by Indians towards the over-consumption of the humble salt might prove to be costly in the long run.

Let’s not take this with a grain of salt but with a pinch of optimism and hope that citizens make more informed decisions about the consumption of our beloved salts.