Thursday, 9 February, 2012

The saltiness of the sea comes from dissolved minerals, especially sodium, chlorine, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, says Galen McKinley, a UW-Madison professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences. Today’s ocean salt has ancient origins. As the earth formed, gases spewing from its interior released salt ions that reached the ocean via rainfall or land runoff. [...]

It’s one of the oldest arguments in medicine: Does eating salt raise your blood pressure? Yes — and no. How can the same study supply support conclusions?