Salt has been used as a food preservative and flavor enhancer for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians, for example, left salted fish and birds as funeral offerings as far back as 3,000 B.C. The word “salary” comes from the Latin word “salarium”, which referred to wages paid to Roman soldiers to purchase salt.
Today, salt is everywhere, which has doctors worried. The average North American consumes about 3,400 mg of salt each day, far more than the American Heart Association’s suggested 1,500 mg (about a teaspoon).
The problem? Salt in the bloodstream tends to attract water; too much salt increases blood volume; and that creates pressure on blood vessels and the heart. The long-term effects of excessive salt consumption have been linked to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and other illnesses.
Talk with your doctor about how much salt in your diet is good for your health. By the way, don’t substitute sea salt for regular table salt in hopes of eating healthier; scientists say that both have equal chemical makeup and nutritional value.
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