Sea Salt

By: Zarita Mahomed

I will be writing a series on Spices. Letting you know the benefits of the basic spices that we use daily. This month we will start with salt(sodium) and we will then look into sea salt, Pink salt, Black salt, amongstother types of salt beforemoving on to different spices.

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

Salt comes from two main sources: sea water and the sodium chloride mineral halite (also known as rock salt).

The history of salt traces back to as far as 6050BC. Salt was used as part of religious offerings and to preserve mummies in Egypt. It was a valuable good traded between the Phoenicians and their Mediterranean empire. It was also prized by the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Hillites, Egyptians, and Indians. Salt became an important article of trade and was transported by boat across the Mediterranean Sea, along specially built salt roads, and across the Sahara on camel caravans.

The addition of salt to food began relatively recently, about 5000 years ago.

IMPRESSIVE HEALTH BENEFITS

The human body requires sodium in order to carry out vital functions and, since it cannot be produced by the body, it can be consumed in the form of salt (sodium chloride). Both sodium and chloride play a number of essential roles in the functioning of the human body.

Helps the Nervous System

As sodium and chloride are electrolytes, they help regulate the amount of water inside and outside of our cells, ensuring that the messages sent from the brain to the body, and vice versa, are transmitted effectively by the nervous system. Salt plays a vital role in water retention, muscle contraction, and digestion.

Blood Pressure

Whilst most people have heard about the potential negative effects on blood pressure of ingesting too much salt, it’s just as important to be aware of the fact that having too little salt in your diet can result in dangerously low blood pressure. Sodium helps to regulate fluids in the body, essential for maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

Prevents Dehydration

Salt plays an essential role in the regulation of water in the body, which is key to staying hydrated, electrolytes including sodium and chloride also trigger thirst, so you are alerted when you need to consume more water.

CONNECTION OF SALT AND RELIGION:

The Prophet’s favorite condiments were honey, olive oil, salt, and vinegar.

The Qur’an(2:168) says, “Yea people: eat of what is on earth, lawful and wholesome.”

Salt is mentioned in the Bible 46 times and in the Quran three times