Table salt or common salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the broader class of salts; salt in its natural form as a crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in large quantities in seawater, where it is the main mineral constituent. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essay The ocean contains approximately 35 grams (1.2 oz) of solids per liter, or a salinity of 3.5%. Salt is essential for life in general. , and salinity is one of the basic human tastes. Salt is one of the oldest and most common food seasonings, and salting is an important method of food preservation. Some of the earliest evidence of salt processing dates back to around 8,000 years ago, when people in the area of ​​what is now Romania were spring boiling. water to extract salts; a saltworks in China dates from around the same time. Salt was also valued by the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Hittites, Egyptians and Indians. Salt became an important item of trade and was transported by ship across the Mediterranean Sea, along specially constructed salt routes. and across the Sahara on camel caravans. The scarcity and universal need for salt led nations to go to war over it and use it to raise tax revenue. Salt is used in religious ceremonies and has other cultural and traditional meanings. Salt is processed from salt mines and by evaporation of seawater (sea salt) and mineral-rich spring water in shallow ponds. Its main industrial products are caustic soda and chlorine; salt is used in many industrial processes, including the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride, plastics, paper pulp, and many other products. Of the annual global production of approximately two hundred million tonnes of salt, only about 6% is used for human consumption. Other uses include water conditioning processes, highway de-icing, and agricultural use. Edible salt is sold in forms such as sea salt and table salt which usually contain an anti-caking agent and may be iodized to prevent iodine deficiency. In addition to its use in cooking and at the table, salt is present in many processed foods. Sodium is an essential nutrient for human health via its role as an electrolyte and osmotic solute.[1][2][3] Excessive salt consumption can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, in children and adults. Such health effects of salt have been studied for a long time. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Personalized Essay As a result, many global health associations and experts in developed countries recommend reducing the consumption of popular salty foods. .[3][4] The World Health Organization recommends that adults consume less than 2,000 mg of sodium, the equivalent of 5 grams of salt per day..