Crystal Diffuser,Crystal Oil Diffuser,Crystal Aroma Diffuser,Crystal Essential Oil Diffuser Jiangsu Raymeel Home Decoration Co., Ltd. , https://www.raymeelhome.com
Why you should store salt in your pantry supplies
Salt is an often-overlooked but crucial item to stockpile when preparing for long-term scenarios. For thousands of years, it has been essential for food preservation, hydration, and even as a form of currency. However, acquiring salt can be challenging in regions where it's not naturally abundant. Historically, explorers like Lewis and Clark set up salt camps in places like Oregon to extract salt from seawater, not because they understood its nutritional importance, but for seasoning and curing meat. Today, you can visit the Lewis and Clark Salt Works, which was once part of their journey. One of the original motivations for their expedition was the belief that a vast salt deposit existed near the Missouri River.
In post-apocalyptic media, such as the TV series *Jericho*, salt becomes a valuable resource after society collapses. The show highlights how access to basic necessities like salt can become a source of conflict. Throughout history, salt has played a pivotal role in the rise and fall of civilizations. Wars were fought over it, and it was so valuable that it was used as currency. The word "salary" comes from the Latin word for salt, and the Romans even built roads to transport it. While Roman soldiers weren’t paid in salt, American troops were given salt brine during the War of 1812.
Author Ben Falk, in his book *The Resilient Farm and Homestead*, suggests storing salt alongside other essentials like seaweed and blue-green algae. He argues that these items are sourced from limited areas and are more accessible now than ever before.
**Summary:**
- Salt is harvested through solar evaporation, mining rock salt, or vacuum evaporation.
- Low sodium levels can lead to symptoms like nausea, fatigue, muscle cramps, and even coma.
- Salt is used for food preservation, disinfecting wounds, melting ice, killing weeds, and cleaning.
- Good options include kosher salt, pickling salt, iodized table salt, and curing salt.
- Salt has an indefinite shelf life if kept dry.
**Where Salt Comes From in Nature:**
Salt is found in abundance in certain regions. It’s extracted through three main methods:
- **Solar evaporation:** Saltwater is left in shallow ponds until the water evaporates, leaving behind salt.
- **Rock salt mines:** Salt is mined from underground deposits, known as halite.
- **Vacuum evaporation:** A modern process where saltwater is cooked in large evaporators.
**What Happens If You Don’t Eat Enough Salt?**
A lack of sodium leads to hyponatremia, with symptoms including confusion, fatigue, seizures, and potentially coma. In the wild, natural sources of sodium include dandelion roots and animal organs.
**Uses for Salt:**
- **Essential diet need:** Salt helps replenish electrolytes lost through sweat.
- **Food preservation:** Salt draws moisture out of food, preserving it and killing bacteria.
- **Preserving animal hides:** Salt is vital in tanning and preserving hides for use as clothing or tools.
- **Medicine:** Saltwater solutions can soothe sore throats, clean wounds, and help with sinus issues.
- **Melting ice:** Sprinkling salt on icy surfaces makes them safer.
- **Killing weeds:** A salt-based solution can act as a natural herbicide.
- **Cleaning:** Coarse salt works as an abrasive for scrubbing.
**Salts to Consider for Your Pantry:**
- **Kosher salt:** Versatile and great for cooking, fermenting, and de-icing.
- **Pickling salt:** Ideal for canning and pickling due to its purity.
- **Himalayan salt:** Trendy pink salt, though no better than regular salt in terms of health benefits.
- **Iodized table salt:** Helps prevent iodine deficiency.
- **Curing salt:** Used for preserving meats with added preservatives.
**Storing Salt:**
Salt is easy to store—just keep it dry. Moisture can cause clumping, especially with pickling salt, so it’s best stored in airtight containers. While some people use mylar bags or number 10 cans, it’s usually unnecessary unless you're planning for extreme long-term storage. Store your salt in a cool, dry place away from moisture and pests.