Salt: Essential, Sacred, Therapeutic, Practical

Before humankind was aware of its biological essentiality, salt was used primarily as a preservative, carrying a higher trade value than silver, diamonds, or even gold in many ancient cultures.  Most sociologists agree that our addiction today is actually the side-effect of its long-standing use as a preservative.  And in countless religious systems around the world, salt became ritualized for its life-affirming abilities, carrying potent purification and protective properties.  Even today, traditional Egyptian funerary practices include an offering of salt for the departing, a practical and spiritual connection to the ancient mummification process.  And for most of us today, salt is considered the most essential condiment in our pantry; many of us impulsively put it in most everything we cook, and wouldn’t think of eating most foods without a generous coating on top.   In fact, the average American consumes 4X as much as the body actually requires.  But does that mean we should value salt less?  Read more . . .