Worth Your Salt

While it serves a role for seasoning food, salt is also one of those substances important to the body’s health.

Besides being a chemical needed by the body, the generic table salt bought at the store is typically fortified with iodine, another needed component. It quite literally makes everything taste different.

Salt has a long history as a preservative, because of its ability to kill mold and bacteria. Salt water can be used to clean minor wounds as well for this same reason. It stings to get in the ocean with a stubbed toe, but know you are aiding in the healing process.

There are also thousands of household uses for salt.

Like baking soda, salt is an abrasive and absorbent – use it to scour a stainless steel sink, or pour it down the disposal. You can even pour it over a stain on the carpet and blot it up later.

Salt’s long history in both culinary and household uses should serve as a reminder that using it is much safer than many of today’s cleaners. You might throw up after drinking a mouthful of salt, but the effects are much more benign than a mouthful of bleach to a child!

Do you have any uses or recipes where salt is featured?