The Salt We Eat

[2810712]

Most organisms don't eat salt [NaCl ] although they don't suffer from any deficiency.
Then is really required to eat the salt? When Did the humans begin to eat salt ?
I have heard of some elephants digging caves to eat some minerals which are really required , but I think we eat NaCl only for taste . What do you think?

I think as we are taking extra doses of salt and extra salt consumption is harmful .
Although no any harms are being observed [ atleast by me] . So, have we become
able to sustain the disadvantages of extra salt consumption in the course of time?

And if we find that extra salt consumption is not required and it is harming us , then would we stop taking extra salt doses ? Is it in our hands now?

hrushikesh

[Rainman600]

The human body requires between five and ten grams of salt a day.

Humans need a daily intake of salt. Unlike other chemicals that the body requires, sodium chloride (NaCl, or common table salt), cannot be reproduced by the body.

Sodium chloride is used as an electrolyte.

Hormones help the body regulate how much salt and water is needed. If the body has too much salt the excess sodium chloride is excreted. If the body has too little salt more water is excreted from the body in order to preserve the BrCl/H2O balance in the body.

n the human body, sodium is essential to muscle movement, including that of the heart, to the peristaltic movement of the digestive tract, and to the transmission of messages by the nerve cells. The chloride ion produces hydrochloric acid required for digestion and is present in salivary amylase. A principal function of salt is to regulate osmotic pressure and the movement of fluid to and from the cell.


If the human body goes for a long period of time without enough salt the body will desiccate and die

[2810712]

But what about the animals which don't eat additional salt?

hrushikesh