PBL 2022: An ingredient we can't live without, Salts
Life without Salts, Salts in our body
M. Zuhayr, 8th Silver
BMI-B, Islamabad - H-8/4
A closer look proves that the human body isn't complete without salts
They're everywhere in our body
Usually, people think of salt as just one of the few objects there on the table before you eat, and nothing else. But the actuality is, Salt is near omnipresent, it is found in our body, our blood, our seas, even in our soil, it is everywhere. That is what makes Salts so exceptional and why to this day, it is still studied and we still don't know much about them. But we do know a few things. After this year's (2022) PBL though, I've learnt more things than my first unanswered questions, here's all.
To compensate for the scarcity of a substance not vital but salient to life, the brains of our ancestors and those of other mammals developed powerful strategies for getting and keeping salt. Due to which we know many of the salt mines we have today. Here are just a few examples of what life is without salts is, and all that I in my experience learnt from this year's PBL
Many animal species, evidently including humans, have an innate hunger for salt that the brain brings into play as soon as special populations of brain cells register the fact that the body does not have as much sodium as it needs. The functioning of a human brain as we now know it, is moderately controlled by salts from our body too. The way our muscles function, the movement, all of it has to partly do with salts in our body. In fact, Salt is so important for our functioning that In humans, severe salt depletion or attenuation can produce many effects, not all of which will immediately be recognised as a result of salt deficiency. A serious loss of salt can lead to reduction in blood and fluid volume, with potentially dangerous effects on heart action and blood circulation. Due to which we know it as levels of blood pressure. Even diabetes Is caused due to high-sugar-levels, and lower salt consumption. A salt-deficient person is likely to experience fatigue, feel weak, and lethargic. Muscle aches and cramps follow almost any physical exertion. Other effects are nausea, vomiting and confusion. Once again, Proving how important salts are to us.
In experiments done by Doctors for years, other scientists deliberately depleted or reduced their own consumption of salt. The effects included persistent thirst which could not be assuaged by drinking water, and loss of most of the sensation of taste. Even spicy foods, sweets and chocolates, cold drinks and coffees lost their taste. When you hear someone say they can't taste something, horrifyingly enough, it is due to the fact they have less salt circulation in their body. However... There is most definitely a way this can be prevented.
As I've already stated all the effects of salt-depletion in your body and how it can completely change your life, there is the benefit of the doubt here that a person who consumes dairy products and low-sugar foods frequently, does not even need salt-filled-products, let alone pure salts. In my opinion though, the real beauty of salts is how ubiquitous they are in our lives, the possibilities of using salts to make almost anything are illimitable. The real problem here is at times, people consume too many salts and it results in them paying double the price of not consuming salts, You know what they say: Dash of Salt does no harm, Extremes are the enemy! And before consuming carbohydrates, just remember; It's easier to earn calories than to burn them.
Usually, people think of salt as just one of the few objects there on the table before you eat, and nothing else. But the actuality is, Salt is near omnipresent, it is found in our body, our blood, our seas, even in our soil, it is everywhere. That is what makes Salts so exceptional and why to this day, it is still studied and we still don't know much about them. But we do know a few things. After this year's (2022) PBL though, I've learnt more things than my first unanswered questions, here's all.
To compensate for the scarcity of a substance not vital but salient to life, the brains of our ancestors and those of other mammals developed powerful strategies for getting and keeping salt. Due to which we know many of the salt mines we have today. Here are just a few examples of what life is without salts is, and all that I in my experience learnt from this year's PBL
Many animal species, evidently including humans, have an innate hunger for salt that the brain brings into play as soon as special populations of brain cells register the fact that the body does not have as much sodium as it needs. The functioning of a human brain as we now know it, is moderately controlled by salts from our body too. The way our muscles function, the movement, all of it has to partly do with salts in our body. In fact, Salt is so important for our functioning that In humans, severe salt depletion or attenuation can produce many effects, not all of which will immediately be recognised as a result of salt deficiency. A serious loss of salt can lead to reduction in blood and fluid volume, with potentially dangerous effects on heart action and blood circulation. Due to which we know it as levels of blood pressure. Even diabetes Is caused due to high-sugar-levels, and lower salt consumption. A salt-deficient person is likely to experience fatigue, feel weak, and lethargic. Muscle aches and cramps follow almost any physical exertion. Other effects are nausea, vomiting and confusion. Once again, Proving how important salts are to us.
In experiments done by Doctors for years, other scientists deliberately depleted or reduced their own consumption of salt. The effects included persistent thirst which could not be assuaged by drinking water, and loss of most of the sensation of taste. Even spicy foods, sweets and chocolates, cold drinks and coffees lost their taste. When you hear someone say they can't taste something, horrifyingly enough, it is due to the fact they have less salt circulation in their body. However... There is most definitely a way this can be prevented.
As I've already stated all the effects of salt-depletion in your body and how it can completely change your life, there is the benefit of the doubt here that a person who consumes dairy products and low-sugar foods frequently, does not even need salt-filled-products, let alone pure salts. In my opinion though, the real beauty of salts is how ubiquitous they are in our lives, the possibilities of using salts to make almost anything are illimitable. The real problem here is at times, people consume too many salts and it results in them paying double the price of not consuming salts, You know what they say: Dash of Salt does no harm, Extremes are the enemy! And before consuming carbohydrates, just remember; It's easier to earn calories than to burn them.
Very informative, very well written. Thank you for presenting wonderful information.
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