Why did agricultural societies need salt supplements more often than nomadic groups living on milk and meat?

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Cluster of translucent, white salt crystals with sharp cubic shapes viewed under a microscope at high magnification against a dark background. — salt Salt crystal magnified.

Agricultural societies required sodium chloride supplements because their diets consisted primarily of cereals and vegetables, which lack sufficient natural salt. In contrast, nomadic groups subsisting on milk and meat—especially when consumed raw or roasted—obtain adequate amounts of salt naturally, making additional intake unnecessary.1

The transition from a nomadic lifestyle to an agricultural one necessitated the habitual use of salt, as the natural salt content in boiled meat or plant-based diets is often lost or insufficient. This shift in dietary habits profoundly influenced ancient cultures, where salt became a symbol of fidelity and a vital component in sacrificial offerings and covenants.1