Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: paul.fr on 22/04/2007 22:09:34

Title: RDA
Post by: paul.fr on 22/04/2007 22:09:34

Whats all this reccomended daily allowance about? Do we realy need x amount of salt, etc every day?

Title: RDA
Post by: another_someone on 23/04/2007 00:15:42

I doubt that the amount you need is exactly the same as the amount I need, but we all do need salt (NaCl), otherwise you start by getting cramps, and end by death.

In the past, salt was in shortage in many places away from the sea, and it was very valuable (hence the saying "worth his weight in salt", and what I had forgotten, was that the word "salary" refers to payment in salt).

Title: RDA
Post by: lgic on 23/04/2007 16:26:57

This is a good question. RDA quantities were originally set by noting what minimum prevented illness. It has been argued that the quantity for optimal health could be much greater.