Possible role of salt intake in the development of essential hypertension*

Abstract

Although the practice of adding salt to food is an ancient one, there seems to be little doubt that until relatively modern times its widespread use as a condiment was uncommon. At present, the practice is a ubiquitous one and, in the United States at least, salt may be added at any stage before, during or after food-processing as well as before, during or after cooking. And sometimes salting takes place during each of these steps!