" Salt is the most common food flavoring
" Used as a preservative for centuries
" Contributes to high Blood Pressure
" Chemical formula is NaCl Sodium Chloride
" Ships from Ancient Egypt sold salt to Greece
" Romans got salt as part of their pay
" Moorish merchants traded salt ounce for ounce for gold
" Salt is an acquired taste that is learned at a young age
" The body needs only 200 mg Sodium to stay healthy

" How to avoid high intake of salt":
1. practice moderation
2. be aware of salt content in foods
3. limit processed foods
4. drain liquid off canned veggies, rinse tuna

" Safe amount for average person 1,100 to 3,300mg per day
" The average yearly intake is 9 pounds
" Meat, fish, poultry and dairy have the most
" Fruits and vegetables have the least (fresh)

Hidden sources of salt:

1. monosodium glutamate (MSG)
2. sodium benzoate : a preservative
3. sodium bisulfate: keeps foods from turning dark and losing nutrients

Processed foods contain a lot of salt

Fresh corn 1 mg canned corn 1cup 384 mg
Fresh baked potato 5 mg proc. Mashed 485mg
Fresh peas 1 cup 2mg canned peas 495mg
Swiss cheese 74 mg Amer. Cheese 406mg
Cheddar cheese 176mg Parmesan 528 mg

HISTORY OF SALT

" 4,700 years ago China recorded 40 kinds
" used salt as tax revenue
" Egyptian art @ 1450 B.C. records salt making
" Ancient Greece sold slaves for salt hence the expression " not worth his salt"
" Salt rations for Roman soldiers "salarium argentum" the forerunner of the English word "salary"
" An important trading commodity carried by explorers
" More than 30 references to salt in the Bible, using expressions like "salt of the Earth"
" 1000's of Napoleon's troops died during his retreat from Moscow because their wounds would not heal as a result of a lack of salt.
" Every person every day uses salt
" Annual salt production > over past century from 10 million tons to over 200 million tons today.
" Salt comes from the sea, lakes, wells and rock mines
" Salt is used extensively in the chemical industry for the manufacture of plastics, glass, chlorine, soap textiles, paint, rubber, paper and caustic soda for aluminum production.

Kosher salt is lighter with no additives, i.e. iodine.
It is so named because it is the favored salt for "Koshering" meats used by Orthodox Jews and used in other foods considered "Kosher" for many Jewish religious holidays.

It is the preferred salt by most professional chefs, because of its' mild taste.

Sea salt is also popular and may or may not be white in color.
Salt from salt mines will take on the color of the mineral that is mined with it (pink, grey or brown).

Salt Secrets

1. Salt added to water makes the water boil at a_______________

2. Boiling eggs in salted water makes eggs___________________

3. Apples dropped in cold, lightly salted water as they are peeled will_____________________

4. Salting salads immediately before serving will keep them
________________________________________

5. Salt tossed on a grease fire on the stove will_____________.

6. Remove onion odors from hands by__________________.

7. Prevent mold on cheese by__________________________.

8. For sore throats gargle with a mixture of________________.

9. To clean teeth, mix________________________________.

10. To treat poison ivy, soak__________________________

11. Keep cut flowers fresh by adding a___________________.