Salt: We use kosher salt every day, so you might think it's something we need to be as picky about as sugar. Actually, though, table salt has many important nutritional and health benefits, and some you may not have considered. Regular table salt contains numerous trace minerals and electrolytes, including potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. Most importantly, it keeps us from getting sick.
Sea Salt and table salt are the most similar in composition. Salt is derived from natural underground mineral deposits, which undergo significant evaporation. The majority of its trace minerals and other impurities are eliminated during refinement, making it a refined product. One thing to note, however, is that sea salt frequently contains artificial additives called "anticaking agents" to prevent clumping, which isn't really necessary. The main differences between the two products lie in the process of extraction.
Evaporated sea salt contains natural organic matter such as magnesium and sodium chloride. Ocean water is naturally full of these substances, which make it perfect for human consumption. To get table salt, however, rock crystal salt must be processed. It's typically ground up using electricity or a chemical exfoliant, then mixed with water. Rock salt is more refined than ocean water and therefore contains fewer minerals. There are two types of this salt, kosher salt, and pink salt. Kosher salt has been found to be the most nutritious.
Pink salt, on the other hand, is "bleached" using an oxidizing agent, and its trace minerals and other impurities are left behind. Although the color doesn't change, pink salts usually contain only potassium and sodium chloride. Some table salts contain up to two percent magnesium, but it's very difficult to find this kind.
As you can see, both kosher and pink table salt are similar. But there are some important differences between the two, which we'll discuss below. Table salt should be your choice only if you have health problems, or if you have to control your blood pressure.
The trace mineral content is one of the key factors determining whether table salt is healthy or unhealthy. As you probably know, seawater contains many of the trace minerals your body needs, which includes sodium chloride. Sea salt typically costs more than table salt, because it's typically mined from further offshore. This means that there are fewer chemicals used to process it, which means lower sodium chloride concentration.
However, despite the potential downsides, I highly recommend using sea salt over table salt. In general, I prefer sea salt for its sodium chloride content, which is much higher than what you'll find in supermarkets. It's also very easy to come by, being harvested right where it floats in the ocean, the coast of western Africa, for example.
If you'd like to learn more about sea salt and other natural ingredients that you can add flavor to your foods without harmful chemicals, check out my website. It covers natural ingredients you can use in dozens of recipes to add flavor to all sorts of foods. And most of what I use is organic. Find out more today!
Many popular cooking recipes call for table salt. But, sea salt is also a great alternative. There's a wide range of sea salts available, depending on your taste and what you want to achieve. For example, some sea salts have an iodine content, which helps maintain healthy levels of the hormone iodine. Other sea salts have a special characteristic: they contain a substance called magnesium chloride, which works as a preservative.
Fleur De Sel, a type of salt used in France, is another natural alternative to table salt. It has been used for hundreds of years to preserve food. Fleur De Sel is available widely throughout the world. Some specialty sea salt websites offer a full database of Fleur De Sel salts, which you can find by clicking on the Fleur De Sel link.
There's another benefit of trying natural salts: they actually taste better than table salt. Most table salt tastes bad, whether it has a sodium chloride content or not. But, many manufacturers of alternative table salt include alternative ingredients that improve the flavor. Fleur De Sel is one example of an alternative salt with an excellent taste. And, it's good for you. Natural salt doesn't contribute to the formation of blood pressure problems like table salt does.
So, what are the main differences between sea salt and table salt? The bottom line is that each of them has its place in many recipes call for either one of them. And, if you're looking to improve your health or your taste buds, consider trying a product that contains natural salts. They can be a great addition to your diet.
