Epic source
Magnesium
122 mg · 29% DV target
A crystalline mineral essential for life, salt acts as the primary flavor enhancer in global cuisine by suppressing bitterness and intensifying sweetness while serving as a fundamental regulator of fluid balance.
Salt intake is a primary driver of blood pressure levels, and reducing consumption is consistently linked to a lower risk of stroke and fatal coronary heart disease .56
Major health institutions, including the USDA, set the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction (CDRR) level at 2,300 mg of sodium per day (about one teaspoon of salt) for individuals aged 14 and older to minimize health risks .48
Reducing sodium intake has been shown to lower blood pressure without causing adverse effects on blood lipids (fats in the blood), renal function, or catecholamine levels (hormones like adrenaline) .5
Using salt substitutes is often more effective at lowering blood pressure than general dietary advice or health education alone, with one meta-analysis finding they significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure .12
Petal shape shows the nine FoodCompass domains, including nutrient density, processing, satiety, fats, and phytochemicals.
122 mg · 29% DV target
39350 mg · 1711% DV target
Not a benefit — best kept low
Seasonality has not been estimated for this ingredient yet.
Keep dry to prevent clumping.
Salt is abundant and extraction via evaporation or mining is relatively low-impact compared to agricultural crops.
Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt, a practice that gave rise to the word 'salary' and the expression 'worth one's salt'.