Salt is essential for life. Our body fluids are salty: Blood, sweat, tears, and saliva all contain salt. In our bodies, salt plays a role in water retention, muscle contraction, and contains nutrients that are vital to our stomach. In ancient times, the lack of salt affected the health of entire populations. Trade in salt was very important and valuable enough to be used as currency.

Healthy adult daily intake should be five or six grams of salt. Our bodies rely on electrolytes to help carry out electrical impulses that control many of our bodies' functions. Salt activates an enzyme in the mouth called salivary amylase and plays a role in digestion by helping to break down food. Salt also creates hydrochloric acid in the stomach to digest food. A sodium deficiency can lead to shock if the blood pressure is decreased too severely.



Salt rations were paid to Roman soldiers with sacks of salt known as "salarium argentum." The word “salary” was derived from the salt ration provided to Romans. The Latin word for “salt” is "sal." References to salt abound in languages around the globe, particularly regarding salt used with food. Salt was highly valued and its production was legally restricted in ancient times as it was historically used as a method of trade and currency.



During the first Century BC, Roman power was at its height and absorbed vast quantities of goods from across the Mediterranean for consumption throughout its extended Empire.



Commerce along the Mediterranean trading coastline specialized. Mazarron, Spain had four important products: minerals from its mines, esparto grass used for the manufacture of fishing nets, salt production from its man-made salt flats, and fish. The combination of the ability to catch fish and make salt meant that the area was perfect for the production of salted fish products and fish sauces.






Salzburg is the fourth-largest city in Austria. The name Salzburg means "Salt Castle" (Latin: Salis Burgium). The name derives from the barges carrying salt on the Salzach River which were subject to a toll in the 8th century.



The salt mines nearby Salzburg have been worked for over 7,000 years.


Farewell to the King (1989)


The vulnerability of the Borneo tribe was they had to make the trip to the coast to acquire salt.

Iodized Salt
Humans require trace amounts of iodine, a non-metallic mineral, for proper development and growth. Iodine exists in most soils, and is absorbed by plants which in turn is ingested by humans and animals. Most of the body's iodine stores are in the thyroid gland, which requires the mineral for synthesis of the hormones it secretes. An iodine deficiency leads to an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), slowed metabolism, and weight gain, as well as other symptoms such as fatigue, intolerance of cold, neurological disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin abnormalities. Iodine deficiency in pregnant or nursing mothers can result in thyroid problems during fetal and child development, and is the most common cause of preventable brain damage in the world.

I personally knew a guy who exercised himself into a coma. He participated in the Ironman competition in Hawaii where he flushed the electrolytes out of his system. He was in a coma for days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He is lucky to be alive.