The most popular spice, which is white crystals. It can be finely or coarsely ground, with the addition of iodine, etc. As a rule, salt includes admixtures of various mineral salts, which give it a brown or gray tint.
Chemical formula – NaCl.
Manufacturing
Salt is obtained by evaporating sea water or salt lake water, mined in mines or salt caves.
Kinds
On the Russian market, domestically produced salt is represented by four grades: “extra”, highest, first, stone (second). In addition, there is lick salt used to feed animals. “Extra” and superior varieties can be enriched with iodine.
“Extra” and premium salt is best used for marinades, and stone salt for preparing preparations. Most recipes call for the use of “extra” salt, although, according to many nutritionists, rock salt is considered the healthiest, since it contains beneficial admixtures of other mineral salts. Iodized salt is not suitable for pickling.
Usage
Salt is added to almost all dishes because it helps bring out the flavor of the food. Without it, dishes seem bland and tasteless. In addition, salt is used as a preservative that kills putrefactive bacteria.
Adding salt to dishes must follow certain rules. When preparing meat broths, salt is added 25-30 minutes before the end of cooking, fish broths - after the foam has been removed, vegetable and mushroom broths - a few minutes before the end of cooking.
When cooking legumes, salt is added after they have softened or at the end. When stewing or boiling vegetables - immediately after boiling. Vegetables and fish need to be salted before frying, potatoes - at the end, since under the influence of salt they lose their juice. Steaks should be salted at the end of cooking. If you salt the meat before frying, it will lose its juice and will stew more than fry.
Most often, salt is added “to taste”, but when salting or preparing marinades, it is measured out in a strictly defined amount. When stewing or steaming vegetables, reduce the amount of salt by a third. In minced meat and fish add 20 grams (2 tsp) of salt per 1 kg of meat.
If the meat has been over-salted during cooking, it is recommended to serve it with unsalted butter or flour sauce, fish with unsalted mashed potatoes or stewed in sour cream with parsley and dill. Over-salted mushrooms are served with sour cream, rice, mashed potatoes, and onions. You can correct the saltiness of the soup by adding rice, potatoes or unsalted noodles.
Beneficial features
Salt is an important element of human metabolism. It is necessary for the production of gastric juice, digestion of food, transmission of nerve impulses, and muscle function. With a lack of salt in the body, weakness, increased fatigue, destruction of muscle and bone tissue, the appearance of nervous and mental diseases, disruption of the cardiovascular and digestive systems, anorexia, osteoporosis, and smooth muscle spasms are observed.
Restrictions on use
Both a lack and an excess of salt in the body lead to negative consequences. Research shows that people often consume more salt than necessary. This can lead to hypertension, diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver, kidneys, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, and eye diseases.
The daily salt intake for an adult is 10–15 grams, in conditions where there is increased sweating - up to 30 grams.
The impact of excessive salt consumption on the body is confirmed by the example of Finland: when average salt consumption decreased by a third, mortality from heart attacks and strokes decreased by 80%.
The salt market offers many varieties of this spice. Now you can find Peruvian pink, French smoked, Himalayan pink rock and other types of salt. Some restaurants even employ “salt sommeliers.”
There are 0 calories in 100 grams of salt.
Salt is perhaps the only product that does not contain calories. At the same time, the benefits of salt are quite great:
- Without salt, our body simply cannot exist. It is found in tears, blood and sweat. In addition, the body does not “know how” to synthesize sodium on its own, which means that moderate salt consumption is simply necessary for life;
There are 0 calories in 100 grams of salt.
- Salt is one of the most sought after spices that adds flavor to foods and dishes.
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The only thing to remember about salt consumption is that it is better to slightly undersalt a dish than to hopelessly oversalt it. Excessive salt consumption will lead to problems with blood vessels, heart, joints and even vision.
Usually there is a distinction between fine, medium and coarse salt. Large ones are ideal for preparing first courses, as well as various marinades. Medium salt - for meat, as well as for salting and baking fish. Fine salt can be used for ready-made dishes or directly at the table.
Table salt is essentially a universal product, a mineral that has accompanied humans since ancient times. A long time ago, people realized the importance of this seasoning in their lives, which is why there are a number of proverbs and sayings, for example, “Eat a peck of salt with someone” or “Leave unsalted” and of course many others, reflecting the great respect of the people for this product . Moreover table salt was very often used as a bargaining chip in many civilizations, for a certain small amount of which you could even buy yourself a slave.
The process of extracting table salt in our time is not much different from ancient methods. Moreover, the extraction of certain species is carried out in almost every country. The production of table salt varies, most often carried out in the following three ways:
- Self-settling salt, which is formed by the natural evaporation of sea water.
- Self-sedited salt obtained from the bottom of salt lakes, or in salt cave ponds.
- Rock table salt obtained through mine development. This salt is not subjected to any heat treatment during extraction.
Chemical composition of table salt
The chemical composition of table salt according to GOST is actually very simple. This is a compound formed by the interaction of alkali and acid, two chemical elements - sodium and chlorine. Therefore, the formula for table salt is NaCl. This compound is obtained in the form of white crystals (see photo), which we are accustomed to seeing in our salt shakers.
The benefits of table salt
The benefits of this product are very unlikely to be underestimated in a person’s life. Nowadays, the variety of different types of salt on the shelves of shops and supermarkets is incredibly wide. You can see sea, iodized, Himalayan, pink and black, and many other types. They all differ in the place of extraction, purification methods and many other factors that affect the presence of additional beneficial ingredients in the salt.
Thanks to all this, this product has a huge number of useful properties. Every day, about five grams of this mineral should enter our body to maintain water balance. It also serves as the basis for the formation of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which performs the lion's share of the digestive process. This mineral must be present in the human blood and liver, and even at the cellular level. Thanks to its unique composition, it helps maintain the required level of electrolytes.
Use in cooking
The use of table salt as an additive in cooking is used throughout the world. There is not a single kitchen in the world where this seasoning is not used. In addition to adding taste, it is also used as a preservative for the long-term preservation of vegetables, meat, and fish. The important thing to remember is to use it in moderation.
Beneficial properties and use in treatment
The beneficial properties of table salt and the use of this composition in treatment have been known since ancient times and are confirmed by modern research. Sodium chloride, this is the name of the compound, due to its irreplaceability in biological processes of both humans and the rest of the plant and animal world, plays an important role in the life of every organism.
Sodium is practically the main cation involved in maintaining the required level of acid-base balance, and it is also responsible for the constant osmotic pressure.
The sodium-potassium compound ensures the penetration of glucose and amino acids through the cell membrane. If this component is insufficient, the transmission of nerve impulses and the activity of various muscles, including the heart, will not be able to function properly in the human body.
Without sodium, it will be quite difficult for the colon to absorb some nutrients.
Chlorine is responsible for the formation of hydrochloric acid and some other substances in the body responsible for the breakdown of fats. It is the main stimulant of the reproductive and nervous systems, and if it is insufficiently present in the body, the full formation of bone and muscle tissue is impossible.
Using salt to benefit the body is possible not only through its ingestion. We can significantly improve our health by using some recipes using topical sodium chloride.
For example, salt baths are very popular to strengthen the nail plate. To obtain it, dissolve a few tablespoons in a cup of water and dip your fingertips there for a few minutes.
Also, when you have a runny nose, it is recommended to do the following warming up: heat a glass of salt in a frying pan, pour it into a bag of gauze or canvas, and warm the bridge of the nose.
Even in the fight against excess weight, extra food salt will become a faithful assistant. Dissolve two kilograms of salt in a hot water bath and plunge into the resulting solution for fifteen minutes.
In addition to these, there are many other ways to use this product to benefit your own body.
Harm of salt and contraindications
There are many theories about the harm of this product. The most important thing that all researchers note is not to overdo it in use. The optimal norm for a healthy adult is fifteen grams of sodium chloride per day. And it should be considered this way. Ten grams enter the body already as part of consumed products. And only five grams can be consumed additionally when preparing various dishes.
Extra food salt can, in large quantities, lead to clogging of the cells of our body with various harmful substances, can cause tissue swelling and additional stress on the arterial vessels and heart. It should be borne in mind that excessive consumption of this product can lead to complications in the functioning of the entire body. In addition, the nutritional value of table salt is also quite high, and an excessive amount of salt in the body leads to additional stagnation of water in the body.
Therefore, you should be moderate in salting your dishes, and, if possible, avoid additional intake of this mineral, because the benefits and harms of table salt will always depend only on your prudence. And then this ancient flavoring product will only benefit your health.
From time immemorial, humanity has paid increased attention to such a seemingly simple substance as table salt. Indeed, no other food product is associated with such a large number of traditions and superstitions. People have been familiar with salt for about 10 thousand years. There were times when it was called a divine gift and was valued more than gold. They fought over the deposits, and because of its lack, “salt riots” often broke out. What do we know about this highly controversial product? What is the calorie content of salt and what are the permissible norms for daily use? We need to figure it out.
Benefit or harm
There are the most controversial opinions about the benefits and harms. What is the calorie content of salt, what is its specific benefit or harm to the body? Such questions are increasingly of interest to the mass consumer. Scientists are still puzzling over “what’s the big deal,” 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, 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, reducing consumption can lead to various cardiovascular abnormalities and the risk of myocardial infarction or stroke. Such serious consequences are caused by a lack of sodium in the body. With a complete refusal of salt, the activity of nerve cells is disrupted, insulin production decreases, and renin, on the contrary, increases. In this regard, a reasonable conclusion arises that everything is good 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 everything that negatively affects a person. In ancient times, during the offering of sacrificial animals, salt was sprinkled so that they would appease the gods with their taste. It has long been considered a talisman against evil spirits and evil spells.
Salt, in its ritual meaning, in combination with bread means financial well-being and wealth; it is not for nothing that the bride and groom are blessed with bread and salt on their wedding day. The expression “Bread and salt to you” also serves as a wish for wealth. In modern times, this is how important foreign guests are welcomed at the airport at the government level.
Such different salt
Salt is a universal product. An interesting fact is that salt has zero calories. There are different colors (white, pink, black), large stone and extra, as well as iodized, fluoridated, dietary, sea. And this is not a complete list. The purpose of salt is completely different; one type can be used to salt salads, another can be used for canning, and a third can be used for medical purposes to prevent 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 type of salt with a high sodium chloride content (98-99%) and a minimal amount of moisture.
- Evaporation. It is obtained from salty sources by evaporation and contains about 98-99.8% sodium chloride.
- Cage (marine). It is formed from sea or lake water by evaporation in pools specially equipped for this purpose. It differs from other species in its lower sodium chloride content and taste properties.
- Self-planting. 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 a salt lake, from where it is then extracted using special equipment.
Use of salt
Salt, in other words, is one of the most important components that are used in the daily life of both people and animals. The calorie content of table salt is 0 kilocalories. This resource is also used in many industries. Salt is used as a basis for the production of chemical products (chlorine and from which various plastics are made, in particular PVC. In total, there are about 14 thousand uses of salt.
As for table salt, which everyone eats, 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 salt is zero. The daily requirement is 10-15 grams. It comes out to about seven kilograms per year. These indicators also depend on the conditions and type of climate. Water-salt exchange occurs more intensely in countries with hotter climates.
Salt is the only natural mineral that the human body can absorb. Table salt is actively used for preserving various types of seams, since brine tends to stop the activity of bacteria.
Useful properties and treatment with salt
Salt (calorie content per 100 grams is 0 kcal) has good preventive as well as medicinal properties. If you have a stuffy nose or runny nose, you can rinse your nose with a special solution. Pharmacies have a wide variety of irrigation preparations based on ordinary sea water. For sore throat, gargle (half a teaspoon of salt in half a glass of warm water). Salt also helps with bites of various insects. To do this, you need to prepare a mixture, one to one, and lubricate the bite site. The itching and pain go away quickly. At home, salt is simply irreplaceable for mild poisoning, as it is capable of removing poisons and toxins from the body.
Salt is widely used in so-called balneology. They treat a large number of various diseases, help improve metabolic processes in the body, and remove waste and toxins. Baths are prescribed for diseases of the spine, arthritis, as well as disorders of the neurovascular system.
From all of the above, we can conclude that zero calorie content (table salt is meant) makes this product incredibly dietary, but unsuitable for consumption in large quantities.
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Salt (sodium chloride (NaCl), sometimes table salt, table salt, rock salt) is a white mineral, highly soluble in water. Salt is quite often found in nature in the form of crystals of different textures and sizes (large and small). It is one of the minerals that people eat. The human body has a need for salt, but its large consumption causes quite a lot of diseases and complications in the body.
The salt that is processed in production is devoid of any microelements. Natural salt, which has not been processed, contains (per 100 g):
8.0 mg potassium;
1.0 m magnesium ions;
24.0 mg calcium;
38758.0 mg sodium;
0.3 mg iron;
0.1 mg manganese;
0.1 mg zinc.
Also, depending on the place of extraction, it may contain: selenium, tin, zinc, iodine.
Current manufacturers add iodine to salt, but other microelements are missing. Almost the entire range of useful microelements is contained only in unprocessed sea or rock salt.
Beneficial features
Salt helps remarkably to lower blood pressure and tachycardia (salt water). Sea salt is a natural antihistamine. It will help calm inflammation, allergies, and reduce the amount of mucus.
Salt maintains the water-salt balance and sodium - potassium ion exchange of the human body. If there is not enough salt in the body, bone and tissue destruction occurs, depression, nervous and mental disorders, osteoporosis occur, and the cardiovascular system suffers. Everything that is not absorbed in the body is excreted through the kidneys and urine. A person with a lack of salt is weak, experiences dizziness, loss of taste, and sometimes nausea. If salt deficiency becomes chronic, it can even lead to death. However, this only applies to a lack of natural salt.
Application
The scope of application of salt is quite wide. First of all, it is used in nutrition. Modern cosmetologists also enrich their products with mineral salts (creams, masks). Even ordinary homemade baths with sea salt will relieve inflammation in muscles and joints and help wounds heal faster. It is very useful to breathe over sea salt vapors for people with respiratory problems. Salt caves have always been popular for this purpose. Nowadays, some hospitals equip their salt rooms. You can also find salt lamps in pharmacies - when heated, salt emits vapors that are beneficial for the respiratory tract.
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