How to obtain salt in the wild?

[nicodiemus]

Sodium carbonate is an irritant, an appreciable quantity would probably make you ill.

 

[Jared]

I expect Elephants lick rocks for salt, because they like the taste.

On an japanese island, the local macaque population learned to season their potatoes using the sea water.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/japanese_macaque.htm

 

[match]

Is sea salt better than the denatured salt? Maybe having more impurities.

If you start to come off a 'normal' salty diet and move to a healthier one would you get any withdrawal symptoms?

Interestingly, a reduction in salt in your diet tends to cause a craving for sugar, and conversely a reduction in sugar causes salt cravings

Best stick to the chips and deep-fried mars bar diet after all

 

[Hedgehog]

If we're talking middle England then just find a pony field & you're sorted.

 

[nicodiemus]

The ponies might not take kindly to you nicking chunks of salt lick!

 

[Hedgehog]

The ponies might not take kindly to you nicking chunks of salt lick!

heh, a little bit of cunning may be required I agree.

Still if the local pub is open then crisps & peanuts are an excellent source of salt

 

[Hedgehog]

If you have a pair of worn socks they should be full of salts too - simply add to soups & stews or soak in boiling water for the most hideous drink I could imagine.

 

[andy_e]

Or if you're likely to get into real danger - then a packet of pork scratchings secreted away in your survival pack should do the trick

 

[nicodiemus]

You can actually purchase low sodium salt, ie potassium salt, from most supermarkets these days. Saxa do one i think. Combine the two for a convenient survival thinger for your pack?

 

[Jared]

You can actually purchase low sodium salt, ie potassium salt, from most supermarkets these days. Saxa do one i think. Combine the two for a convenient survival thinger for your pack?

Probably better of with rehydration sachets.

Think they have a few more beneficial things in as well as potassium chloride & sodium chloride.

http://rehydrate.org/rehydration/index.html is quite interesting reading

There are several commercially available products but an inexpensive home-made solution consists of 8 level teaspoons of sugar and 1 level teaspoon of table salt mixed in 1 liter of water. A half cup of orange juice or half of a mashed banana can be added to each liter both to add potassium and to improve taste.

 

[Jodie]

It's sodium I think that you need, not salt? Sodium is a component of salt.
You could try eating wood ash, that should have sodium carbonate in it.

Ah, you do need a bit of chloride for nerves and whatnot as well.

Neuroscience for kids - the action potential (how ions power nerves)
Page with search terms highlighted
Page as nature intended

Probably more than you wanted to know about calcium chloride
http://www.dow.com/productsafety/finder/cacl_2.htm

I can't make head nor tail of "denatured salt" - anyone else?

 

[Toddy]

Denatured is the term usually applied to things like pure alcohol, ethanol, which has a bitterant added to stop folks drinking it. Un denatured is potable stuff used for high grade tinctures and the like.

Denatured salt is salt that has had additives added to let it flow, or to help it keep it crystaline form (roadsalt)

cheers,
Toddy

 

[andy_e]

Denatured is the term usually applied to things like pure alcohol, ethanol, which has a bitterant added to stop folks drinking it. Un denatured is potable stuff used for high grade tinctures and the like.

Denatured salt is salt that has had additives added to let it flow, or to help it keep it crystaline form (roadsalt)

cheers,
Toddy

Thanks Toddy, I think that makes sense.

 

[Jodie]

Thanks

This is what the word means to me so I couldn't get my head round it!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denaturation_(biochemistry)
but I see if I remove the last bit I get http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denaturation
which mentions this 'doping' of food etc.

 

[Toddy]

I know what you mean I'm a science graduate and having to ask for "undenatured" alcohol when I want pure stuff strikes me as an oxymoron It's the double negative thing :tapedshut

Denaturing happens to a lot of our processed foods, e.g.Icing sugar is denatured sugar since it has a non caking agent added.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[nicodiemus]

"I'd like a bottle the *hard* stuff please, landlord."