Table salt or common salt is a mineral composed mainly 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 rock salt. Salt is present in large quantities in sea water, where it is the main mineral constituent. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay The open ocean contains about 35 grams (1.2 ounces) of solids per liter, a salinity of 3.5%. Salt is essential to life in general, and saltiness is one of the basic human tastes. Salt is one of the oldest and most ubiquitous food seasonings, and salting is an important food preservation method. Some of the earliest evidence of salt processing dates back to approximately 8,000 years ago, when people living in the area of ​​present-day Romania boiled spring water to extract the salts; a salt pan in China dates back to the same period. Salt was also prized by the ancient Jews, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Hittites, Egyptians and Indians. Salt became an important item of trade and was transported by boat across the Mediterranean Sea, along specially built salt roads, and across the Sahara on camel caravans. The scarcity and universal need for salt has led nations to go to war for it and to use it to raise tax revenues. Salt is used in religious ceremonies and has other cultural and traditional meanings. Salt is processed from salt mines and from the evaporation of seawater (sea salt) and mineral-rich spring water in shallow pools. Its main industrial products are caustic soda and chlorine; Salt is used in many industrial processes including the production of polyvinyl chloride, plastics, paper pulp and many other products. Of the annual global production of approximately two hundred million tons 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 contains 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 due to 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. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay As a result, numerous global health associations and experts in developed countries recommend reducing consumption of popular salty foods.[3][4] The World Health Organization recommends that adults consume less than 2,000 mg of sodium, equivalent to 5 grams of salt per day.