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Show i SALT OF THE EARTH To be called "the salt of the earth" 'is still a high compliment. And in human physiology there is no more vital element than ordinary table salt sodium chloride. Thus it is important to know why this compound is so important. impor-tant. It is only one of many "salts" which in themselves are a class of chemical compounds formed when an acid is combined with an alkali. Still, in everyday conversation one does not worry about such technicalities. It is enough to know that we mean the stuff in the salt shaker at home or in a restaurant. This salt is a constituent of seawater, of the soil, of plants, and of every living cell and tissue. The proper exchange of salt in the human body between blood and tissues is essential to life. Its impairment interferes with the proper fluid content of the tissues and with the electrical components compo-nents of tissue functions. When something goes wrong with the handling of salt in the body, there is serious trouble. Metal Content Essential It is the metalic content of sodium chloride the sodium that is the essential factor in the proper functioning of salt within the body, and of its disturbances. Sodium chloride is one of the mineral elements known as elec-I elec-I trolytes. It bears important rela-) rela-) tionships to calcium and potas-l potas-l sium in body chemistry. Its uti-i uti-i lization is related to the function ! of the adrenal cortex, an impor-I impor-I tant factor in Addison's disease (a disturbance in salt metabolism due to adrenal cortical failure). The most common impairment j of sodium metabolism is the excessive ex-cessive loss of salt that we may suffer through perspiration before our bodies fully adjust to hot weather. This can range from mild to severe, the latter causing heat cramps and preventable by the use of more salt on our food. If salt tablets are taken periodically, period-ically, they must be swallowed with at least a cup of water to help the body metabolize the salt. Otherwise, the taking of salt tablets defeats its own purpose by stimulating further dehydration. dehydra-tion. The reverse can also happen. In certain forms of heart and kidney disease, excessive sodium retention in the body may cause water-logging of the tissues. . Habitual use of too much salt is ordinarily handled by the kidneys kid-neys without difficulty, but it may be a factor in weight control. Low-Sodium Diets When the doctor prescribes a low-sodium diet, erroneously called "salt-free", he doesn't mean diet without salt. The would be detrimental, and impossible, since salt is contained in all foods, even when not intentionally intentional-ly seasoned. He means a diet low in sodium. He means that he wants you to refrain from working the salt shaker so hard, and to cut out salty foods such as smoked and cured meats, sea foods and ocean fish, pickled foods and canned food with sodium benzoate preservative pre-servative added (read the label). He may also recommend bread baked without salt, unsalted crackers, and dietetic fruits and vegetables canned without added salt. Seasonings permitted are herbs, onion, garlic, vanilla, paprika, papri-ka, parsley, pepper, peppermint, vinegar and non-sodium salt substitutes. sub-stitutes. Dairy products are usually unrestricted un-restricted in a low-sodium diet, except that sweet instead of salted butter is used, and low-sodium cottage cheese is favored over other varieties. |