Salt junkies, pay attention! If you’re a compulsive sprinkler, you may want to consider making the switch from regular table salt to sea salt. Although they’re essentially the same thing””a combination of the minerals sodium and chloride””table salt and sea salt differ in a few ways.
Table salt, the most widely used seasoning in America, is mined from underground salt deposits. It’s heavily processed and usually iodized, and it contains chemical anti-caking and flow agents such as calcium silicate to prevent clumping.
Sea salt, which comes in fine or coarse crystals, is obtained by evaporating sea water. It’s natural, minimally processed and leaves behind trace minerals the body needs. Sea salt also has a subtle flavor that’s said to be fresher and cleaner than table salt.
Both table salt and sea salt contain about the same amount of sodium chloride, which is required for body functions like electrolyte balance and nutrient delivery into cells. But consuming too much can lead to fluid retention, which triggers high blood pressure and a number of other health complications. The recommended daily amount is between 1,500 mg and 2,300 mg.
Making the switch to sea salt may not have profound health benefits, but it will make one less processed, chemically treated food in your diet. Plus, you can experiment with new flavors. Infused sea salts (flavored with herbs, spices or fruits) and smoked sea salts are a unique way to enhance soups, breads, meats and more.
Check out Vitacost.com’s selection of gourmet sea salts, plus crackers, rice chips, popcorn and other snacks naturally flavored with sea salt. Just enter “sea salt” in the Search Box on our home page.