Salt for a healthy living

Salt is a vital element to maintain a healthy working system.

It is an abundant and inexpensive resource which carries sodium, chloride and to which iodine can be added - all of which are important nutrients for human health. These nutrients contribute to well-functioning digestive, renal and nervous systems as well as good hormonal balance.

Even though there is no one-size-fits-all guide on how much salt one should consume daily, an insufficient - or excessive - salt intake can have negative effects on the body. For more information about salt dosage recommendations click here.

What is sure, is that our body requires the nutrients sourced from salt for an efficient healthy functioning system and overall well-being.

The benefits of sodium and chloride

Salt consists of two primary elements, which roughly in terms of weight is around 40% sodium and 60% chloride.

Sodium and chloride are known as electrolytes. These allow our body to carry an electrical charge and so play a crucial role in the body’s water homeostasis, nerve conduction and muscular contraction.

Sodium is an essential compound that the body simply can’t function without and salt is the primary way most people deliver sodium into the body. Sodium helps our bodies retain water through our kidneys. And so a low sodium intake would have a major negative effect on the body as it would cause a stress reaction and activate the Renin, Angiotensin and Aldosterone System (RAAS). The RAAS is a water and sodium conserving system, which regulates the renal Na+ re-absorption, extracellular fluid volume and blood pressure. On average 60% of an adult body is made up of water, so it is essential we maintain adequate levels of water volume in and outside of the cells.

Chloride plays an important role in acid-base balance. It is part of the secretion of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice.