Salt

[[File:Salt shaker on white background.jpg|rght|thumb|165px|Some salt for making food salty.]]{{foodnav}}
'''Salt''' is a compound consisting of a positively charged metal ion (cation) bonded with a negatively charged ion (anion), which makes most salts soluble in liquids consisting of polar molecules (the most popular being [[water]]).

The best-known salt is sodium chloride (NaCl, common table salt).<ref>[https://sciencing.com/five-examples-salts-science-class-6098860.html Five Examples of Salts for Science Class], ''Sciencing'', April 27, 2018</ref>  All salts taste salty, but some, such as arsenic or plutonium salts, are not recommended as table seasonings. Excessive salt consumption can increase the risk of high blood pressure,<ref>[https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/4249-hypertension-and-nutrition Hypertension and Nutrition], ''Cleveland Clinic''</ref> as Na<sup>+</sup> ions are ''extremely fucking positively-charged'' and thus will soak up the water in blood, slowing the rate at which excess water can be eliminated and inflating blood vessels.<ref>[https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium/effects-of-excess-sodium-infographic Excess Levels of Sodium: How too much sodium affects your health]. ''American Heart Association,'' 2022.</ref>
==Usage of salt==

Salt was legendarily used in ancient times (most notably in the case of Carthage) to destroy the usefulness of agricultural land once conquered - the crops would be burned to the ground and the soil "salted" to poison it. Essentially, this would be ''scorched earth'' turned up to 11. However, a vast amount of externally-applied salt is required to significantly poison even one acre of land, and even then, soils that are well-drained and/or receive large amounts of rainfall will rapidly flush out the salt (Soil salination as a consequence of irrigation is a different phenomenon in which irrigation concentrates salts initially present in the subsoil into the topsoil). This is a costly proposition because salt was in ancient times far more valuable than it is now. Why a conquering power would render agricultural land worthless to anyone rather than claim it and exploit it for its own interests is not within the scope of this article. However, the legend continues to be told, and as a result, the phrase 'salt the soil' refers to any attempt to extirpate something and prevent its recovery.

Salt is used to melt snow and ice on roads and paths; various salts have reasons making them better for this. This works because water with a salt solution has a lower freezing point; also, the process of dissolving the salt releases some heat.<ref>[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/salt-doesnt-melt-ice-heres-how-it-makes-winter-streets-safer/ Salt Doesn’t Melt Ice—Here’s How It Makes Winter Streets Safer], ''Scientific American'', February 12, 2019</ref> The "ideal" ice melting product would be reasonably cheap, yield a very low freezing point when dissolved in water, have a high exothermic energy release while dissolving, and not be harmful to plants, concrete or road tar, and materials used in vehicles. For instance, potassium or nitrogen salts are less harmful (or even good) to neighboring plants, and calcium chloride is often used because it is a better "melter".{{cn}} 

The [[Nuclear war|Strategic Arms]] Limitation Treaty between the [[Soviet Union]] and the [[United States]], signed by President [[Nixon]], was called S.A.L.T.{{nofact}}

==Table salt==
The principal ingredient of table salt is pure sodium chloride (NaCl), consisting of ~97% of the materials of table salt.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090511004300/http://www.tesco.com/superstore/xpi/8/xpi50042778.htm Tesco Table Salt 750g], ''Tesco'' (Archived from [https://www.tesco.com/superstore/xpi/8/xpi50042778.htm original])</ref> It is typically mined (or evaporated), ground, purified (most of the time), packaged, and shipped with not much changing. This section is about the food.

===Iodine===
Sometimes trace iodine is added to salt to allow for easier intake. Iodine deficiency can lead to intellectual or developmental disabilities, so this addition is much like adding fluoride to water or (more accurately) vitamins to milk. If you are not allergic, adding iodine is unlikely to be toxic before succumbing to the high enough sodium levels needed for iodine poisoning.<ref>http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002658.htm</ref>

While iodized salt is widespread in the United States, it's much rarer in the United Kingdom.<ref>[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23324480/ Availability of iodised table salt in the UK - is it likely to influence population iodine intake?], ''PubMed''</ref> British people get more of their dietary iodine from milk.

===Fluoride===
In some European countries (e.g., France, Germany, and Switzerland), fluoride is routinely added to table salt as an alternative to [[water fluoridation]].<ref>[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24308394/ Salt fluoridation and oral health], ''PubMed''</ref>

===Kosher salt===
Kosher salt comes in larger grains.<ref>[https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2007-07-25-0707240119-story.html Salt differences: texture, grain size], ''Baltimore Sun'', July 25, 2007</ref> That's really about it in terms of difference, apart from minor differences in how to cook with it. Now the salt is not [[kosher]] (Judaism is silent on the issue of which salt to use), but larger grains which can be thrown away after covering meat with it are excellent for drawing out any residual liquid/blood, and blood is not kosher.<ref>[https://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Projects/Reln91/Blood/Judaism/kashrut/kashrut.htm Kashrut: Jewish Dietary Laws]</ref> Hence the name. Some chefs prefer it because the coarser grains make it easier to pinch.

===Sea salt===
Sea salt is produced by evaporating seawater. As a result, it contains more "contaminants" than mined salt, giving it a slightly different flavor. The grinding process is also slightly different, which goes back to differences in how to cook with it. Roughly 30% of all salt sold for human consumption is sea salt.

===Low sodium salt===
Salt substitutes reduce an individual's salt intake to lower blood pressure. They commonly contain potassium, an essential nutrient, but if taken in excess or by people who cannot excrete potassium normally, it can cause health problems; this is mainly an issue in those with kidney disease, diabetes, or on some medications.<ref>[http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/salt/Home/Howtoeatlesssalt/Alternatives Low Sodium Salt Alternatives], Blood Pressure UK</ref><ref>{{wpa|Salt substitute}}</ref> Since most salt in the typical western diet comes from prepared, commercially sold food instead of a salt shaker at the table, salt substitutes may not significantly reduce sodium intake.<ref>[https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/tips-for-a-lower-salt-diet/ Tips for a lower-salt diet], NHS (UK)</ref>

== High blood pressure ==
The human body needs salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) to survive, and while ''extremely'' rare in the developed world, there are areas of the world, such as sub-Saharan West Africa, where salt deficiency is a common and grave public health issue (as a result the salt pans in the Sahara provide one of the few actual uses for the land).<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4786148/ Salt Reduction Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review]</ref> That said, the body only needs a teeny tiny bit of it. Ingesting a lot of salt causes a temporary increase in blood pressure.<ref>[https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-happens-if-you-eat-too-much-salt#short-term-effects What Happens If You Eat Too Much Salt?], ''Healthline'', July 9, 2020</ref>

The American Heart Association recommends that people cut down on salt consumption because of the risk of high blood pressure, "The science behind sodium reduction is clear. Significant evidence links excess sodium intake with high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure."<ref>[https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium/sodium-and-salt Get the Scoop on Sodium and Salt]. American Heart Association.</ref> Health authorities who cite research from [[evidence-based medicine]] recommend that people eat no more than 6g (about a teaspoon) of salt daily.<ref>[https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support/healthy-living/healthy-eating/salt Salt]. British Heart Foundation.</ref><ref>[https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/salt-nutrition/ Salt: the facts]. NHS.</ref><ref>[https://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm315393.htm Use the Nutrition Facts Label to Reduce Your Intake of Sodium in Your Diet]. U. S. Food and Drug Administration.</ref><ref>[https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure/shaking-the-salt-habit-to-lower-high-blood-pressure Shaking the Salt Habit to Lower High Blood Pressure]</ref> The majority of sodium in the American diet (more than 70%) is found in processed food.<ref>[https://www.cdc.gov/salt/pdfs/sodium_dietary_guidelines.pdf Get the Facts: Sodium and the Dietary Guidelines Sodium and the Dietary Guidelines]</ref>

The [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] advocates a severe, government-imposed restriction on the amount of added salt in processed and restaurant food.  But then, they also advocate a tax on sugary drinks and a ban on [[trans fat]], and they hate the entire rainbow of [[food dye]]s, so they're pretty big on the whole [[Small_government#The_Nanny_State|nanny-state]] food thing all around.

==Various forms of woo==
{{main|Salt woo}}
Not content with using it to improve dinner and occasionally ruin your enemies' soil, salt has been hijacked by various [[woo]]-meisters and [[superstition]]s.

A widespread folk tale is that throwing salt over your shoulder can be good [[luck]] or a safeguard against bad luck. In Asian cultures, like in Korea and Japan, salt is used to keep away bad luck and evil spirits, or sometimes as a form of purification. It is often thrown at people or in front of doors or temples. An example of this would be Sumo wrestling. Before every match, salt would be thrown onto the ring for purification.

On the more [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] side, salt has been touted as a cure-all and the evilest substance one can ingest because of scary words like 'sodium'. Various [[quack]] medical treatments involving salt exist, from [[salt cave therapy|respiratory problems]] to [[salt lamp|the downright barmy]] to 'special' properties ascribed to pink Himalayan salt (aside from handily coming in block form and, um, being pink).

==See also==
*[[Purported legal highs#Herbal_smoking_blends,_"bath salts"_etc.|Bath salts]], as a nickname for herbal blends intended for getting high.
*[[:template:wag|Wild assed guess]]
*[[Sugar]]
* Molten salt reactor, another name for a [[Breeder_reactor#Liquid_Fluoride_Thorium_Reactor|liquid fluoride thorium reactor]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

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[[Category:Chemistry]]
[[Category:Crystals]]
[[Category:Water fluoridation]]

Categories: Chemistry, Crystals, Water fluoridation