Salt

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Salt is a dietary mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride that is essential for animal life, but toxic to most land plants. Salt flavor is one of the basic tastes, an important preservative and a popular food seasoning.

Salt for human consumption is produced in different forms: unrefined salt (such as sea salt), refined salt (table salt), and iodized salt. It is a crystalline solid, white, pale pink or light gray in color, normally obtained from sea water or rock deposits. Edible rock salts may be slightly grayish in color because of this mineral content.

Chloride and sodium ions, the two major components of salt, are necessary for the survival of all known living creatures, including humans. Salt is involved in regulating the water content (fluid balance) of the body. Salt cravings may be caused by trace mineral deficiencies as well as by a deficiency of sodium chloride itself. Conversely, overconsumption of salt increases the risk of health problems, including high blood pressure.

For more information about Salt, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with salt

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Researchers develop cheap, easy 'kitchen chemistry' to perform formerly complex synthesis

Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry

created 21 hours ago | popularity 4.4 / 5 (8) | comments 0

A team at The Scripps Research Institute has made major strides in solving a problem that has been plaguing chemists for many years: how best to break carbon-hydrogen bonds and then to create new bonds to join molecules together. ...


High salt intake directly linked to stroke and cardiovascular disease

Medicine & Health / Health

created Nov 24, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (5) | comments 1

High salt intake is associated with significantly greater risk of both stroke and cardiovascular disease, concludes a study published in the BMJ today.


Solar power generation around the clock

Solar power generation around the clock

Technology / Energy

created Nov 05, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (29) | comments 15

(PhysOrg.com) -- A Californian company, SolarReserve, is developing a solar power system that can store seven hours' worth of solar energy by focusing mirrors onto millions of gallons of molten salt, allowing ...


Robotic clam digs in mudflats

Electronics / Robotics

created Nov 22, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0

To design a lightweight anchor that can dig itself in to hold small underwater submersibles, Anette (Peko) Hosoi of MIT borrowed techniques from one of nature's best diggers -- the razor clam.


Canadians finding it tough to shake the salt habit

Medicine & Health / Health

created Nov 17, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Canadians know that too much salt isn't good for their diets, but half still continue to shake it on, according to a new study by University of Alberta researchers.


The principle of generating blue energy by reverse electrodialysis.

Boosting the amount of energy obtained from water

Technology / Energy

created Nov 18, 2009 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (3) | comments 1

The energy generated in places where fresh water and salt water meet is known as blue energy. This is a relatively new but highly promising renewable energy source. Piotr Długołęcki of the University ...


Family partnership, education interventions lower heart failure patients' salt consumption

Medicine & Health / Health

created Nov 17, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Educating family members of heart failure (HF) patients about the health benefits of consuming a low-salt diet and providing skills for support and communication can effectively reduce HF patients' sodium consumption, according ...


Water-conserving irrigation strategies minimize overwatering, runoff

Water-conserving irrigation strategies minimize overwatering, runoff

Biology / Other

created Nov 05, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Conserving water and reducing the environmental impact of runoff are two of the most important issues confronting container nursery operations. Current regulations and laws in five states limit water consumption ...