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Article: A pinch of controversy shakes up dietary salt. (includes related article on reducing intake of salt)
- Article from:
- FDA Consumer
- Article date:
- November 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 U.S. Government Printing Office. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Salt
For such a simple substance, common table salt has had a very complex past. Once scarce, salt was as precious as gold, valued as a chemical agent used to clean, dye, soften leather, and bleach. But more importantly, early humans recognized salt--sodium chloride, or NaCl--as a necessary part of their diets and an element worth fighting for.
Now modern technology has made salt readily available and at a price almost anyone can afford. As a result, many of us take salt and its merits for granted. But scientists keep salt in the news by debating its role in a healthful diet. At times, discussion and controversy threaten to obscure salt's importance ...