Salt is a magical substance. It reduces bitterness, enhances sweetness, boosts flavor, and preserves perishable foods. Without it, we would die: the human body can’t make sodium, but our nerves and muscles don’t work without it. It was considered rare until quite recently, so it’s hardly surprising that, throughout history, salt has been the engine behind em ... Show More
May 19
A Dog's Dinner: What Should We Really Be Feeding Our Pets?
In millions of homes, humans aren’t the only creatures sitting down to dinner. So what's on the menu for pets—and what impact does it have on their health, as well as the environment? This episode, we go back thousands of years to figure out what our first furry friends ate, how ... Show More
50m 3s
May 5
Feel the Beet: The Most Fascinating Woman You've Never Heard Of
For those who like its earthy flavor, the humble beet can do a lot for a salad or a soup. But could it help end slavery? In the 1800s, one woman believed it could—and she wasn't just any old woman. This episode, meet Lydia Maria Child, who wrote the first children's periodical ma ... Show More
44m 52s
Apr 21
White vs. Wheat: The Food Fight of the Centuries
White or whole wheat: while today the question is most frequently asked at the sandwich counter, the debate over the correct answer goes back literally thousands of years. This episode, we dive into the world's longest-running, highest-stakes food fight. Along the way: the invent ... Show More
52m 35s
Sep 2023
Should you be reducing salt in your diet?
Salt is a common ingredient in many foods, and it’s essential for our health. Salt is made up of sodium and chloride, two minerals that help regulate fluid balance, blood pressure, nerve and muscle function.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adults should consu ... Show More
4m 15s
Jan 2022
Are Different Types of Salt Really That Different?
Table salt, Kosher salt, sea salt, pink salt -- it may all be sodium chloride, but you can't always directly substitute one kind of salt for another in recipes. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/differen ... Show More
6m 13s
Jan 2024
Should We Be Worried About Salt?
How many times have you heard that we need to cut down on salt? But... do we actually? What does the science say about salt, our health, and who needs to worry about it? Is pink salt healthier than white salt? Is there such a thing as too low-sodium? In this episode, we chat with ... Show More
32m 49s
Jun 2024
Salt Mysteries: Unraveling Why the Sea Is Salty
Dive into a salty adventure with "English for Kids"! In this exciting episode, we're joined by Dr. Marina, a marine biologist, to explore the intriguing question: Why is the sea salty? From the journey of minerals from rocks to our vast oceans, to the crucial role salt plays in m ... Show More
5m 34s
<p>Let’s talk about sea salt. </p>
<p><br></p>
<p>It’s important to get sea salt that has been extracted from parts of the world with very low, or zero, microplastics.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>The best types of sea salt are:</p>
<p> • Himalayan sea salt</p>
<p> • Celtic Sea Salt</p>
<p ... Show More