Caption

Salt. View of several different types of salt. Salt (sodium chloride) is an important part of the diet as it contains sodium, which is needed for muscle contraction, the transmission of nerve signals, a regular heartbeat and the maintenance of the body's water balance. However, too much sodium can cause problems such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and fluid retention. Sea salt is usually preferred as a healthy alternative to table salt, as it contains other beneficial minerals such as magnesium, manganese and iodine as well as the sodium.