Salt balance

Salt is the chemical name for a substance that results from the reaction of an acid with a base. There are three types of salt that are irreplaceable for human growth: magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride. Because of this, is a healthy one Salt balance irreplaceable for the body.

Salts are mineral resources and have crystallized in the earth for millions of years or are extracted from the sea. 70% of the worldwide salt production comes from mines (rock salt) and salt pans (evaporated salt - from salt bed by evaporating the water). 30% of global salt production comes from the sea. Sea salt is called "fresh" salt. In contrast to rock salt, which is called "old" salt due to its long storage.

What is the salt balance?

There are three types of salt that are irreplaceable for human growth: magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride. For this reason, a healthy salt balance is irreplaceable for the body.

Our most important staple food is also called table salt or crystal salt and is created from the combination of sodium with the gas chlorine = sodium chloride (NaCl). This salt has the taste that humans call salty. The common names are also table or table salt. This is refined salt that has been purified and bleached. The refined salt consists of 98% sodium chloride.

Residues of chlorine and aluminum can remain in the salt, but the amounts are so small that they are not harmful to health. If you switch to unrefined salt for this reason, you should make sure that the ingredients have been checked in order to avoid poisoning with harmful substances.

Which additives are in the salt and whether it can be left in its natural state depends on the nature of the mining area. Clay, algae, ash or gypsum as well as minerals are harmless. The Himalayan salt, for example, consists of 97% sodium chloride. The rest are minerals and trace elements. With 98% sodium chloride, the refined products are only 1% lower in minerals and trace elements.

Function & task

Salt is essential to human life and the most widely consumed mineral. There should be 150 to 300 grams of salt in an adult human organism, because it ensures that the body remains healthy.

The components of the salt cannot be produced by the human body itself. Without the chloride, our digestion and breathing would not function. Without sodium, our organism would not be able to transport nutrients and oxygen. It ensures that nerve stimuli are passed on and muscles, including the heart muscle, are activated.

At the beginning of the 19th century one could read in scientific writings that not only blood, tears, sweat and urine contain salt, but also sperm and almost every component of the human body.

The human being consists of 70% water and electrolytes. Without water and salt, the cells could not regenerate or absorb nutrients. They would dry up and die. The concentration of the positively and negatively charged electrolytes dissolved in the water is regulated by the so-called water-electrolyte balance. This includes the uptake, release and distribution of fluid in the body.

Through metabolism and activities, people are constantly losing fluids. To compensate for the loss, an adult needs at least 2.5 liters of water and 3 to 6 grams of salt every day, depending on their weight. These amounts should be taken orally in the form of beverages and food in order to stay healthy in the long run.

The fluid is absorbed through the intestinal wall via the digestive tract. The main part, about 60% of the fluid, is required by the cells, 30% is in the vessels and the rest in various parts of the body, such as the eye and the tear fluid.

Excretion is regulated by the kidneys and takes the form of urine, sweat, breathing and bowel movements. The amount depends on the climatic conditions. In the case of illness or sweaty sports, the daily salt loss can be up to 20 grams.

Illnesses & ailments

A lack of salt can lead to physical complaints and deficiency symptoms. In extreme cases, blood pressure drops, which can lead to death. However, due to the naturally occurring craving for salt and the fact that enough salt is available, this occurs only in very rare cases.

Conversely, excessive salt consumption was blamed for high blood pressure, which has since been refuted by studies. Another argument against this is that excess salt leaves the body through sweating and collects in the kidneys to be excreted.

Salt as a daily food can be used excellently for prophylaxis against diseases. Folic acid (vitamin B9) is added to some types of salt. It cannot be produced by the body itself and is mainly found in green leaves (Latin: folium). Adequate care can prevent arteriosclerosis and is particularly important for women during pregnancy and after childbirth. Other components can be iodine and fluorine, which can protect against iodine deficiency in the thyroid gland and against tooth decay. However, all substances should not be over-consumed at the same time.