Dichotomy of Salt

On one hand, we're told to wash our mouths with salt water after getting a tooth pulled to aid healing, yet we also have a saying about putting salt in wounds to compound the pain and injury.

On one hand, we're told not to drink sea water because it will dehydrate us, yet we're also told that salt makes us retain water. Which is it!?

We're told that eating too much salt in our food is bad for us, yet when the hospital, Doctors give us salt water IV's.

Salty water will rust and ruin metal, yet perserves meat.

Salty water allows us to float in the dead sea.
Salt melts ice in our driveways by lowering the freezing point of water.
It slices, it dices - Salt is wonderful!

Most salt sold has Potassium Iodide added because it's needed for good health. Why? I don't see it added to any other product. Why doesn't salt have calcium or vitamin A added? They're important too.

What is it about those giant salt blocks given to horses? Doesn't it give them hypertension? I guess it's the same idea as giving athletes salt tablets, Oh wait, that's bad now right?

And for our final conflict, what is it about the perceived value of salt? On one hand, salt was so valuable in ancient times that our word salary comes from it. I've heard that some people were actually paid in salt instead of money. On the other hand we have a saying that a person is not worth their salt. Does salt convey value or not?

We all love salt. One thing is for sure, without salt, people wouldn't touch french fries or potato chips. They're simply salt-delivery devices.

Toss salt over your sholder, who knows why? Ask a salty old man.

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