Salt intake that is often deemed high may actually have benefits, scientists say. “We humans eat more salt than is necessary. But we all do it. So the question is: why?” asks Paul Breslin, a professor of nutritional sciences who researches sodium appetite at New Jersey’s Rutgers University. In the past, people thought that salt boosted health – so much so that the Latin word for “health” – “salus” – was derived from “sal” (salt). In medieval times, salt was prescribed to treat a multitude of conditions, including toothaches, stomach aches and “heaviness of mind.”….more