Tag: History of salt

The first commercially available iodized salt was introduced in the United States on May 1, 1924, a pivotal moment in public health history. Before this time, vast regions of the country suffered from a widespread and debilitating health crisis known as the 'goiter belt'. The decision to iodize salt was a targeted, inexpensive, and effective strategy to combat this pervasive problem.

Over 90% of a person's average sodium intake comes from salt, a mineral essential for human survival. Yet, its importance goes far beyond simple seasoning. Understanding why is salt important in our life reveals its fundamental role in our biology and history.

While the idea of eating rocks sounds absurd, humans have been regularly consuming one specific type for millennia. The answer lies in the mineral kingdom, where a crystalline substance known as halite—or common salt—has played a vital role in our diet and civilization. This essential mineral is the only rock that humans intentionally and regularly incorporate into their food.