Recently, I’ve seen more and more labels stating that they use sea salt instead of table salt. Table salt is the regular old salt most of us are used to. Sea salt has become a popular alternative lately but are there any real important differences between the two?
Both salts are a combination of sodium and chloride. Most Americans get too much salt in their diets. Salt is in everything from fast food to bread to cereal. 1500 to 2500 mg of salt per day is an acceptable amount. Unfortunately, most of us get more than that. Therefore, it is important to know if there are any benefits to eating sea salt over regular table salt.
Regular table salt is usually mined from underground salt deposits. Table salt is heavily processed to remove all of the other minerals. Most table salt contains additives that help prevent clumping. Iodine is also added to most table salts. Adding iodine was started many years ago to help prevent iodine deficiency in the general population.
Sea salt is obtained by the evaporation of sea water. It is minimally processed in order to keep the other minerals naturally present in the salt. The mineral content of sea salt does give it a different taste than table salt. Sea salt is thought to be more natural since it is not as processed and usually has no additives. Some sea salts now come with added iodine to help prevent deficiency. Sea salt also has a coarser texture than table salt.
Since sea salt is considered “natural”, many companies are marketing their sea salt or products made with sea salt as a healthy alternative. The fact is that sea salt and table salt have about the same amounts of sodium chloride. This is very important for people to understand. I often have clients with high blood pressure say that they have switched to sea salt to help their condition. Sea salt will provide the same amount of sodium. Be careful with your consumption of either type of salt. Too much salt has also been associated with increased risk of stroke and heart disease.
While it is true that sea salt contains other healthy minerals, there are still a few mineral deficiencies in the United States due to our varied diets. Iron is the most common mineral deficiency in the United States and neither salt (sea or regular) contains iron.
So, which should you choose? Well, that depends on your preference. I am a fan of as little processing as possible in my foods and I also like the flavor of sea salt. Therefore, I choose sea salt. However, I use a sea salt with added iodine. If you like the flavor of table salt, that is fine too. Either way, the most important thing to remember is to limit your intake of sodium in general. Use either salt sparingly. Sea salt in large amounts in NOT healthy! Most chefs will tell you to use sea salt for better flavor but ultimately it is your decision. Remember that just like with all foods, moderation is the key.
- Jennifer
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Labels: healthy tips, Jennifer, salt
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Great post! I am not a salt adder that much. but my hubby uses it more than I & I switched him over to sea salt & he likes it better & uses a lot less too!