Health Benefits of Table Salt
Most commonly and readily available salt, table salt, also known as sodium chloride, is made from the combined elements of approximately 40% sodium and 60% chloride.
Finely ground and fully refined, it is extracted from the underground salt deposits and is heavily processed to eliminate the impurities, which also removes most of the trace minerals.
As finely ground salt tends to clump, anti-caking agents such as calcium silicate are added to prevent clump formation and keep the salt flowing. Thus, the major advantage of table salt is that it doesn’t cake. Table salt is used to flavour food and is also used as a food preservative.
According to the WHO guidelines, an adult person should not consume more than 5 grams of salt, irrespective of its form and source.
Nutritional Value
Table salt contains 40% sodium and 60% chloride. It usually contains iodine, magnesium carbonate, and certain other chemicals. It contains minuscule amount of trace minerals such as iron, potassium, and magnesium. It also contains additives.
100 gm of table salt offers zero calories and zero fats. It provides 8 mg of potassium, 0.33 mg of iron, 24 mg of calcium, and 38,758 mg of sodium.
Potential Health Benefits of Table Salt
1/4. Promotes sound sleep
1. Table salt helps promote good sleep. The mineral content of table salt helps relax the body and provides sound sleep.
2. Table salt regulates two hormones, melatonin, and serotonin levels. Melatonin promotes sound sleep while serotonin, makes one feel calm and relaxed.
2/4. Increases sexuality and libido
Table salt helps in accelerating the libido. The minerals present in table salt increase sexuality and libido thus, promoting fertility.
3/4. Helps adequate functioning of the Thyroid gland
1. The iodine content of table salt helps in the adequate functioning of the thyroid gland. The thyroid produces thyroid hormones,thyroxine, L, and triiodothyronine. These hormones are important in regulating metabolism and in normal growth and development.
2. Table salt balances the iodine content in the body thus, preventing iodine deficiency disorders such as goitre, hypothyroidism, and intellectual disabilities in infants and children whose mothers were iodine deficient during pregnancy.
4/4. Other possible Benefits…
Apart from the health benefits mentioned above, rice vinegar also produces a few more such as, promote dental health, relieves muscle cramps, used for oral rehydration, manages cystic fibrosis, eases sore throat and sinusitis, reduces inflammation, helps in weight loss, useful in skin conditions, improves asthma, prevents low blood pressure, detoxifies the body, helps in constipation, and lowers adrenaline spikes.
According to the WHO guidelines, an adult person should not consume more than 5 grams of salt, irrespective of its form and source.
How to use Table Salt for Cooking?
Table salt is used in several ways, some of them are as follows:
- In desserts.
- Used in baking.
- Added in juices.
- Added in bread.
- Add to marinades.
- As food preservative.
- To add flavour to the dish.
- In coffee to boost the flavour.
- Sprinkled on roasted or fried veggies.
- In snacks such as fried peanuts or fried legumes.
- Used in an omelet, scrambled eggs, fried rice and tofu scramble.
How to prepare Boiled Peanuts recipe with Table salt?
Take 100 gm of raw “green” peanuts and thoroughly rinse these raw unshelled peanuts in water.
Take 4 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of table salt, peanuts and season it with2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning and smoked paprikain a large pot.
Bring this mixture to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat and boil the mixture for around 2 to 3 hours or longer, until the peanuts reach the desired level of softness.
Drain it and consume the peanuts within a couple of days.