Facts about salts.

* The English word salary comes from the Latin salarium (salt).
* A typical daily salt intake in Western countries is 9 grams per day, which is about twice more than ideal level recommended by World Health Organization.
* Up to 75% of consumed salt comes with ready products such as bread, ready meals, soups and breakfast cereals.
* Another 15% are added to food during its preparation, as well as at the table.
* About 10% of salt is contained in most foods.

What is salt

Salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine and is a vital product. It is often used to improve taste of food and its longer storage. Most often, we use regular table salt. Other popular species include sea or mountain salt. Their taste may differ somewhat, although any salt consists of sodium and chlorine. Sodium is a mineral that is involved in regulation of water balance and is necessary for formation of nerve impulses and muscle contraction. But an excess of sodium in combination with other factors, diet and lifestyle, such as alcohol, smoking and low physical activity, increases blood pressure.

Medicinal properties

Salt should not be discarded completely. Its moderate consumption is actually good for your health. For example, in many developing countries they add iodine to salt, which lack is the main cause of mental retardation in children, and at any age causes development of goiter and hypothyroidism.

Choose your salt

People that comply with low salt diet are sometimes recommended to use a salt substitute to reduce blood pressure. However, why not choose an alternative to salt by yourself? Many herbs, spices and even lemon or vinegar can give foods the taste you are looking for.

* Try to replace a pinch of salt you usually add to food with a teaspoon of herbs, such as basil, parsley or dill, or spices, such as cayenne pepper or paprika. Or, add garlic or lemon circle.

* You can also make your own mixture of several herbs. Keep it in a sealed glass jar. Throw a few grains of rice into it and they will absorb the moisture.

*  Always choose less salty foods. You will be able to reduce salt intake from food, if you do it gradually. In this case, you will have time to get used to a new taste.