Salty

Salty tastes cause salivation and carries Vata downward. They reduce stiffness of organs, accumulation of fat and excretory products. Salty taste dominates other tastes and tends to overpower them.

Attributes ²:

• Is hot, heavy and oily

These are the gunas of salty foods but aren't present in huge intensity in them. Salty foods are not too hot, too heavy or too oily. ¹

Potency: Hot Potency ¹

Post-Digestive Taste: Sweet Vipaka ¹

Elements associated ¹:

• Water
• Fire

Seasons to consume Salty Foods ³:

• Pre-winter and winter
• Monsoon

Relationship with Malas (waste): Helps in excretion of waste products. ¹

Categorisation on the basis of digestion: ¹ Vidahi (causes excessive thirst, acidity and heartburn)

Physical Characteristics ²:

• Clears channels and pores.
• Improves digestion.
• Produces sweat.
• Enhances taste.
• Penetrates tissues.

Mental Characteristics: 

Each of the six tastes produces or enhances a certain emotion when eaten. The emotion associated with salty taste is greed. ²

• Sedative.
• Calms nerves.
• Stops anxiety.

If it is consumed in excess, it becomes a cause of:

• Increase in blood.
• Causes balding, gray hair. ¹
• Wrinkles
• Hyperacidity ¹
• Skin diseases.
• Herpes.
• Weakens body strength.
• Delayed wound healing ¹
• Mouth ulcers ¹
• Has the most negative effect on kidneys.

Who should refrain from consuming salty foods ¹:

• Hypertensive patients
• Those suffering from dermatological diseases

Foods that are salty but have negative effects associated with those: 

• Rock salt ¹

References:

1. A Practical Approach To The Science of Ayurveda - Acharya Balakrishna
2. The Ayurvedic Encyclopedia - Natural secrets to healing, prevention and longevity - Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha
3. Bhojanakuthalam - Pg 484