Salt, an essential role for us

 


Salt has played a fascinating role throughout human history. Common table salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), was so valuable in ancient times that Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt - this is where we get the word "salary."

On a chemical level, salt is an essential mineral that our bodies need to function. It helps regulate fluid balance, aids in nerve signal transmission, and assists with muscle contractions. The average adult human body contains about 250 grams of salt.

In food preservation, salt has been crucial throughout history. It prevents bacterial growth by drawing moisture out of cells through osmosis, which is why it was used to preserve meat and fish before refrigeration was invented.

The largest salt mine in the world is the Sifto Salt Mine in Goderich, Ontario. It extends over 7 kilometers under Lake Huron and produces around 7 million tons of salt annually.

There are many different types of salt used in cooking, each with distinct properties:

  • Sea salt is produced through evaporation of seawater
  • Kosher salt has larger, coarser flakes and is preferred by many chefs
  • Pink Himalayan salt gets its color from trace amounts of iron oxide
  • Fleur de sel is a delicate "flower of salt" that forms on seawater surfaces

Interestingly, all of the world's oceans contain about 50 quadrillion tons of salt. Despite this abundance, access to salt has historically shaped trade routes and influenced the development of civilizations.


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