There are countless objects around us that we take so much for granted. However, we never stop to think how different life would be without them. Don’t take it too hard on yourself; every one of us is guilty of this. We have become too immersed in our digital life, and with our leisure time spent on smartphone screens, it has become difficult for modest objects to capture our attention.
Take salt, for example. It is a mineral essential for the human body, yet we think of it as a mundane ingredient used for cooking. No one gazes upon the salt dispenser on the dining table wondering about its significance in life. If you are by any chance wondering, salt used to be one of the most valuable commodities of ancient empires and has a crucial role in human history.
Long before the invention of electricity, salt was the most efficient way to preserve food. The method was so effective that people stockpiled food according to the amount of salt they possessed. Therefore, it was a valuable product and was often paid as remuneration in exchange for work. It was such a critical commodity that empires built salt reserves before they went to war, to ensure food preservation for an extended period. In fear of losing stock, nations and empires used to impose heavy taxes on it. Gradually, salt became a status symbol and a benchmark for wealth across the world.
Salt preserves food in two ways; by drying the food and killing microbes by drawing water from the food and dehydrating it. Bacteria, which is harmful to our body, requires water to live, while dehydration kills them and impedes their spread. Salt is toxic for harmful microbes, because of “osmolarity”. Water diffuses between cells in the environment so that the concentration of salt is the same on both sides of the cell. In a salt concentration, microbes will rupture due to the difference in pressure between the outside and inside of the organism.
Over the years, salt preservation of food has taken a back seat due availability of fridges, but the method is still used to preserve raw hides in leather industries. However, salt has a lot of useful applications in the contemporary household. Here is a list of some of them.
In case of a sting or bite, pour salt water on the wound to ease pain.
Gargling warm brine solution eases sore throat.
A paste composed of powdered salt and baking soda is an effective teeth whitener.
A mixture of warm salt water and baking soda can relief pain from sore feet.
Salt can also be used as a facial, mixed with olive oil, it acts as effective cleanser.
It can also be used as a cloth whitener and stain remover.
You can make your cheese last longer by wrapping with paper/cloth damp with salt water.
If your coffee is too bitter for your taste, add a pinch of salt to it, it will take away some of the bitterness.
Adding a pinch of salt while boiling eggs makes it easier to peel them.
Adding a tiny bit of salt makes milk stay fresh longer than usual.
Although the times have changed, the importance of salt in our daily life has not diminished. Rather its uses have been increasing as humans are realizing the importance of its presence in the body and its cleansing ability. Bangladesh consumes more than 1.5 million tons of salt every year. The use of salt in every aspect of our food has been on the increase. However, a large share of the consumed salt is impure, sub-standard and contains impurities which are harmful for the human body. Impure salt can have serious health implications including kidney damage, swelling of the body and nausea. According to a latest report of BSTI (Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution), most branded salts currently in the market are sub-standard and contains impurities harmful for the human body.
Noticeably, one of the most popular brands, Fresh Premium Super Salt was cleared by BSTI and passed all the benchmarks of standard and quality. Fresh Super Premium Salt is produced by using the combination of Switzerland’s world latest technology and vacuum evaporation system which can remove all impurities and ensures a natural balance of all minerals like sodium chloride, iodine, calcium, and magnesium. As a result, it helps to create balanced electrolytes, activate nerve function, and carries the nutrients to every cell in our body. Its balanced iodine also helps to promote brain development and improve the immune system. Currently, Fresh Super Premium is the most reliable salt available in the market.
Salt is one of the most important components of our food consumption and an indispensable part of our daily life. However, we need to be very vigilant about its standard and only consume salts from brands which are certified by the authorities and produced with the latest technology available.