Salt in history

(TJ Borden) #1

So we talk a lot about salt, and I too have drunk the kool-aid, with my ever growing collection; my altoid tin of Celtic sea salt, my counter top salt well full of Redmond salt (formerly full of kosher), my canister of lite salt that gets added to the mix durning fasts, and my 400mg magnesium pills I now take along with a multivitamin.

So much of what we’ve learned about the ketogenic way of eating has arguments based not only in science, but also in what seems like common sense when looked through the lens of evolution.

What I’m wondering is, even through that lens, where did ancient civilizations get salt? I can understand that salt could have been harvested by coastal populations, but looking at people that lived in the North American plains for example, where did they get salt before trade was common?

I haven’t read The Salt Fix yet, and maybe it’s talked about there, but if I’m going to make the argument (as I often do) that you don’t need carbohydrates based on the civilizations that survived fine without them, then I have to apply the same logic to salt.

It’s also fun to play devil’s advocate for the sake of discussion :smiling_imp:

#2

I’ve often wondered this also. The Salt Fix is a great read but it doesn’t really touch on where cavemen got sodium.

(Stan Brooks) #3

I was a history major. I might actually be useful!

Lots of places. Just like today it was sometime mined and a lot came from the ocean and seas. For example we know one method used in the middle east was to fill a well with salt water and just let the water evaporate

Have you never heard of the great salt lake? But seriously your question is flawed. . Trade has always been a thing and the peoples in the Americas were no different. Plains Indians did not live in a vacuum. They would have had trade with people who did have an easy access to salt.

(TJ Borden) #4

Of that, I have no doubt :smile:

(Candice) #5

Interesting topic! We have the Great Salt Plains and some salt mining in northwestern Oklahoma. There are also springs that have high levels of salt as well. Native Americans, for example Sequoyah, had salt works - boil off the water and your left with salt. I found an article on salt production in Oklahoma that provides more detailed information.

http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=SA010

(TJ Borden) #6

I also now realize that I’ve just gotten used to coming to the forum for all things Keto related. In this case, a simple google search may have been more appropriate :grin:

(Rob) #7

It’s not rocket science… start here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_salt

It was known to be essential throughout all of recorded history and people with it, traded with people without it. It was the basis for the word salary, and also salad. I’m sure the small caveman populations learned about it and probably did better in places with easier access to it.

No peoples went without salt but it is possible that some were deficient. Remember, there’s plenty in animal blood so hunter gathers probably got enough to live, if not to thrive.

#8

It’s remarkable how the ancient mineral-rich oceans became cave salt (am thinking the Himalayan, Polish, and Utah caves - but I’m sure there are many more locations of such deposts), and how when we take it into our bodies we’re relating across a vast expanse of time to our earthly source/first mother.

Salt was the most precious traded commodity among indigenous peoples the world over. The ancient value of it in understanding how primary, how necessary it is, for helping us hydrate/recharge and conserve bodily water so one can go about one’s day without chugging water constantly (because gathering and carrying water was definitely a chore not to be taken lightly). As well as for drying meats!!!

Also for its medicine, as salt water is incredibly curative for a variety of ills - salt caves were healing destinations for those suffering from debility, asthma, etc. Sea salt is an excellent antibiotic wound cleaner and healer (though sometimes it burns, the burn passes pretty quick) for the outer skin and mucous membranes - as well as a powerful aid when used in warm compresses or in humidfiers to help congested people breathe.

A great European book with tons of historical info and modern remedies is Water And Salt: The Essence Of Life, by Naturopath Dr. Barbara Hendel and the renowned biophysicist Peter Ferreira. Tons of fascinating stuff in it for self-care and home health. It goes along really well with Dr. Stephen Phinney’s recommendations for 2-3 mg intake minimum per day!

(Sophie) #9

Saltzburg, Austria has a rich history in mining salt, which they still do today. You can even tour the mines at the Saltzwerks.

(Sarah ) #10

Salt deposits where bodies of water once were, are all over inland areas. Eg the great salt lake in utah, or the salt mines in Austria. But the salt trade was a huge economic issue, that allowed civilization away from coastal areas and farther away from salt mines.

(Ken Hallenius) #11

The book “Salt: A World History” by Mark Kurlansky goes into great detail about the mining and gathering of salt throughout… well, history. It’s a very interesting read, and Kurlansky writes well. Perhaps you might find it helpful!

(TJ Borden) #12

If someone had told me before Keto that I would eventually be interested in the history of salt, I would never have believed it.

How natural is it to supplement with salt?