Salt

Introduction

A customer walked into your community pharmacy and would like to buy some iodized salt.



Types of Salts

Essentially, salt is sodium chloride (NaCl).

Sea salt is a general term for salt produced by evaporation of ocean water or water from saltwater lakes.

  • It retains trace minerals which add flavour and colour.

Celtic salt is a type of sea salt harvested from coastlines after seawater evaporates.

  • Originally sourced from the Celtic Seas near northwestern France, it is now produced in other coastal regions as well.
  • Its characteristic grey colour originates from the inclusion of extra minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, and iron.

Rock salt, also known as halite, is the salt from the ocean that has already formed a rock.

  • Similar to sea salt, it contains very small amounts of minerals such as zinc, copper, iron, manganese, potassium, calcium and copper.

Himalayan salt, is rock salt primarily mined from the Salt Range mountains in the Punjab region of Pakistan.

  • Traced amounts of iron oxide (rust) give this salt its characteristic pink colour.
  • A study of pink salts in Australia demonstrated that, despite containing some nutrients, consuming more than 30 grams per day (approximately 6 teaspoons) would be necessary to significantly contribute to nutrient intake. This level of consumption would provide excessive sodium and potentially harmful effects.

Table salt is typically mined from underground deposits.

  • It is processed to remove other minerals and commonly fortified with iodine.

Iodized salt is table salt mixed with a minute amount of various salts of the element iodine (i.e. potassium iodide or sodium iodide) to prevent iodine deficiency.

  • The usual "dose" is between 10 and 50 mg of iodine/kg salt (sodium chloride) as potassium iodide or iodate.
  • Consequence of iodine deficiency may include
    • Hypothyroidism
    • Diffuse and nodular goitre
    • During pregnancy
      • Cretinism - due to deficiency of thyroid hormone in early pregnancy, leads to permanent intellectual disability and neurology and somatic defects.
      • Neonatal and infant mortality

According to the World Health Organization in 1994, about 1600 million people were at risks of iodine deficiency disorders because they live in iodine deficient environments.

  • Of these, 656 million had goitre and 43 million had some degree of mental defect, including 11.3 million overt cretins.
  • As a result, to combat iodine deficiency, salt iodination is legally mandated in many countries.



Salt Restriction

Excessive sodium intake has an important, if not predominant, role in the pathogenesis of elevated blood pressure. Furthermore, dietary sodium reduction can

In general, the extent of BP reduction as a result of reduced sodium intake is greater in Black patients, middle- and older-aged persons, individuals with hypertension, and, likely, patients with diabetes or kidney disease.

Almost all national and international organizations recommend dietary sodium reduction as part of the nonpharmacologic therapy for hypertension.

Strategies for sodium reduction include

  • Make reading food labels a habit. When available, buy low-sodium, reduced-sodium or no-sodium versions of foods (e.g. breakfast cereals, canned or frozen foods).
  • Rinse canned foods to remove some sodium.
  • Stick to fresh foods (e.g. meats, fruits and vegetables) rather than their packaged counterparts.
  • Reduce or eliminate salt use in cooking. Experiment with adding flavour with herbs, spices, garlic, onions or lemon instead.
  • Request restaurant that your food be prepared without any added or less salt. Ask for dressings or sauces to be put on the side.

NOTE: Although sodium can be consumed in nonchloride forms [e.g. sodium bicarbonate (i.e. baking soda) and monosodium glutamate (MSG)], salt provides approximately 90% of dietary sodium.



Summary

While both Himalayan salt and Celtic salt are often marketed as having more health benefits than regular table salt, the scientific evidence to support these claims is limited.



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