Author : Chandralal Kalansooriya

"Life is not possible without salt", "Salt without minerals is dangerous", "Salt is harmful for those who suffer from High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)", all these are common notions about salt that are widespread in our society.

Today, there is a growing concern among the medical community that salt is a threat to human health. But at the same time, it is also noteworthy that low salt diets too, are dangerous.

Since of late Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG) has emerged as a popular flavouring agent, (pathetically, similar to salt). MSG is made up of two chemicals, Sodium and Glutamate. It does not bring any nutritional value to the foods since no minerals are available. MSG’s salty nature can damage the sensitivity of the taste buds of the tongue which will result in further addiction to salt.

According to the Customs data, Sri Lanka has imported 1,772 tons of MSG worth Rs. 316 million in 2009 and 2,740 tons of MSG worth Rs. 499 million in 2013. The use of MSG in food can lead to NCDs, cancers, neurological diseases and attention deficit disorder (ADA)/ attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is also known to give rise to a condition lately described as "Chinese restaurant syndrome", which include symptoms such as headache, chest pain, burning pain in and around mouth and flushing. MSG is freely available in Sri Lanka and is used widely.

Still our country is affected by iron deficiency (with or without anaemia). In fact, iron deficiency without anemia is more prevalent than iron deficiency with anemia. In general, anemia accounts for only one-third of the problems, caused by iron deficiency. Iron deficiency can give rise to "pica" which is the abnormal craving for substances other than food. Pica in Sinhala is called "PANDUWA". While appreciating the measures taken by the Ministry of Health, it is worth to mention that maintaining body chemistry would help to balance all minerals in the human body. It is pointless to concentrate only on iron, ignoring all the other important minerals in the body. "Rock salt" (Himalayan pink salt) is the only alternative for this purpose though it is not permitted to import to Sri Lanka, strangely due to its colour pink, which ironically proves the high iron content this compound has.

With all these facts about sea salt, it is also important to mention that the correct word for sea salt is "common salt". We, islanders, call it "sea salt" because it is directly manufactured from the sea water. But we should keep in mind that salt is one of the most abundant gifts of the "Mother Nature", being found in almost every country of every quarter of the globe; either existing in mineral springs or lakes, under the surface of the ground or rising from underground into mountains. All these "salts" are again ancient "sea water" deposited millions and millions years ago. For example, Wieliczka (Williska) salt mines, near Cracow in Southern Poland, are 6691 feet long, 1115 feet broad and 743 feet deep. In Spain, near Cordova, there is a mountain of common salt which is 500 feet high and nearly three miles in circumference. All these salts are called "rock salt" because they are obtained from the ground or from the earth crust. But it is a pity that the importance of rock salt is ignored by those who live in islands since their mentality is glued to "sea salt". Sadly, this ignorance prevails as the authorities who are responsible for making decisions regarding these aspects either remain mum or clueless about the advancing technology and expanding wealth of knowledge.