Not all of us know that the use of some of the usual products for us can carry a deadly harm to a person. These include: alcohol, caffeine, salt and even water. It is important to observe the measure in everything. It would seem that the human body in a lifetime must have time to adapt to everything, but this is far from the case. One of the most harmful substances that most people in huge quantities eat every day, without knowing it, is salt.
What is salt?
All of us are accustomed to hearing about salt every day, but rarely any of us thought what it is, what benefit or harm this substance brings. Some with full confidence assert that there is a certain lethal dose of salt for a person. It is necessary to understand this question. Cookery salt( or the kind of it that a person is accustomed to using in food) is a natural mineral substance. Its first prey was carried out many centuries ago. According to the chemical content, it can be said that table salt is sodium chloride in the form of crystals. It includes 60.6% chlorine and 39.4% sodium. Salt is perfectly soluble in water. Despite the fact that many are inclined to the version that after all, a lethal dose of salt exists, it is, first of all, in moderate quantities, the basis of human life.
Properties and functions of the salt
Salt, which is very common for us, is the most important food additive for humans. Usually it is sold in a refurbished form. It happens that in table salt there are some additives that are only able to change its color and taste, but not the basic properties. Other names of salt: dining room, stone, food. Or a chemical name, such as sodium chloride. In modern production of steel to prepare salt with various additives: iodine, fluorine, magnesium, calcium and others. Many housewives will note one more useful property - the use of salt in canning. Thanks to this, vegetables and fruits can be stored in cans for a long time and please us with their taste and use of cold winter evenings. Despite the fact that there is an opinion about the version that a lethal dose of salt for a person is, the substances contained in it are vital for the body. For example, sodium, which is in the salt, constantly maintains the necessary osmotic pressure, acid-base balance, water-salt metabolism of the human body. Due to the optimal sodium content, the heart muscles, intestines and kidneys, nerve endings work well. Chlorine is also important for the body: it breaks fats, removes urea, supports the work of the central nervous and reproductive system, and has a positive effect on bone tissue.
Benefits of salt for the human body
It is important to know that salt does not form in the human body. It must come in the right amount from external sources. Absorbed salt completely in the small intestine, and is excreted by sweat glands, intestines and kidneys. It will be relevant to say about the dehydration of the human body, which can easily occur with excessive loss of water( diarrhea or vomiting).In this case, even a lethal outcome is possible. Therefore, with such a diagnosis, it is necessary to urgently compensate for the lost balance of water and the salt contained in it. A lethal dose of salt for a person, of course, exists, but its moderate amount consumed as food is the main source of chlorine and sodium in the body. If these substances in the organs and systems of the human body become insufficient, he has the following symptoms: general weakness, tachycardia, reduced pressure, involuntary muscle contraction, etc.
Is salt used in medicine?
While humanity is "racking its brains" over the question of what a lethal dose of salt, it is perfectly used to treat and prevent numerous diseases. For example, colds of the nose can be cured by washing it with a solution of sodium chloride. This not only contributes to the moistening of its mucous membrane, but also kills numerous viruses and bacteria that have settled in it. Cleansers with salt water help a person cope with constipation, because they force the bowels to work. In general, table salt stimulates the digestive tract, making digestion by increasing the production of gastric acid.
Types of table salt
The modern industry, engaged in the production of products, began to supply the markets with salt of unknown brands and species. Its cost is sometimes significantly overstated. Is it justified, is this salt useful? And you can eat it how much? A lethal dose of salt, whatever the form it is, still exists, so that it is not necessary to get involved. According to the method of extraction, several types of salt are distinguished:
- evaporation: extracted from the bowels, then water is evaporated from it;
- stone: mined in special quarries with appropriate equipment;
- is self-draining: this salt precipitates itself, it can only be collected;
- sadochnaja: it is evaporated naturally on the bottom of salt lakes.
If we talk about the types of salt based on artificial additives to it or special treatments, we distinguish:
- iodized salt;
- dietary - has a rather specific taste;
- "quarterly", "Papuan", Himalayan, kosher salt and many others.
Do I need to salt food?
There is an opinion that three tablespoons of salt is a lethal dose for a person, capable of causing irreversible processes in his body. It can not be said that by using such a quantity of this product, you can die, but to harm the body, and seriously enough, it's easy. And to avoid such disastrous consequences, you need to know the normal dose of salt for him. It is generally believed that such is - 1 teaspoon of salt per day( this is approximately 11 grams of sodium chloride).In those countries where the climate is much hotter and less humid, sweating among local residents is increased, the need for a daily dose of salt is significantly increased, almost 2 times( 25-30 grams per day).Well, now think about how much you actually eat salt in a day. Most likely, this figure is much higher than the norm, and it can even be referred to as a lethal dose of salt, provided that you suffer from any diseases in which this product is contraindicated. In other words, a person in this case just kills himself slowly. By the way, the caloric content of salt is low, it is close to zero.
Children's body and salt. Pregnancy and salt
We have already found out that salt is needed for the human body. It participates in its metabolic processes and vital functions. Therefore, both the child and the pregnant woman need a sufficient amount of salt. But, there is a small clarification:
- When breastfeeding is adjusted, the baby with the mother's milk receives the right amount of salt along with other nutrients and vitamins. Therefore, the first complementary food is not necessarily additives. Of course, with the growth of the child, with the increase in the demand for mineral substances, salt is added to his food, but in moderation.
- Pregnancy is a special condition in which the body for nine months is responsible for the growth and development of the baby. Therefore, the need for salt in women in an interesting position is greatly increased. Undoubtedly, the measure needs to be known, ie, when swelling occurs, reduce the amount of sodium chloride used. But completely exclude salt from their daily diet of pregnant women is strictly prohibited.
- The lethal dose of table salt for babies and expectant mothers is somewhat different, but it is there, so do not give the child much sodium chloride, since an unformed organism may not cope with its excretion.
How much salt is fatal for an adult?
This question is asked by scientists and physicians around the world for many years, trying to find the most accurate answer to it. So, let's discuss how many spoons of salt - a lethal dose for one person? After all, in a day we consume it in large quantities. Still, it is customary to talk about grams of salt, which can harm the human body, and they make up 3 g / kg of weight. That is, if the average person to eat a fourth of a pack of table salt( 250 g), he will die. Yes it is. Especially if he did not use the proper amount of liquid. And ate it in one sitting. Immediately, the pressure will increase, there will be swelling, there will be swelling of the lungs and brain, in short, a fatal outcome is assured to you.
Salt poisoning
Of course, in this case we are talking about a daily violation of the amount of sodium chloride consumed. People say that 3 tablespoons of salt is a lethal dose. But is it? It is difficult to apply this norm to each specific person, because we all have different weight and height, and the distribution of all used substances in the body of a single person is different. Therefore, scientists are inclined to believe that the lethal dose of salt for a person is 3 g / kg of weight. These norms were obtained by carrying out the necessary experiments in rats. Of course, animals and humans are difficult to compare. Usually the first of them are much easier to poison with salt, because they do not consume the right amount of water per day. This only worsens the situation that is destructive for their organism. How can we understand what is happening in our body when it gets too much salt? Immediately sharply increases the pressure due to changes in blood composition. The person feels very bad. There comes dehydration, the work of the nervous system is disrupted. The result of these irreversible consequences: the death of the human body due to insufficient intake of oxygen in its tissues and organs.
Salt as a habit, life-threatening for life
It turns out that the statement "3 tablespoons of salt is a lethal dose" is not quite right. Therefore, you must calculate this amount specifically for yourself, based on your weight: 3 g per 1 kg of a person's weight. Get used to eat salt in moderation, and then overweight, swelling, high blood pressure will never bother you.
Remember that in any case it's important to know the measure. This applies to the use of salt. It is very important for your body, it can be said, is vital. But excessive use of it in the end can destroy a person.