You're asking and I'm answering . . .
"I usually use sea salt because I thought it was healthier but now I am reading that it's not — I thought it had less sodium or something. It's way more expensive than regular salt, so should I switch back?"
- Salty Sara
Good question! To see my answer then read more.
Salt, no matter what prénom you give it is still just salt and all salt has the same amount of sodium (sodium chloride). The real difference between the two is that sea salt comes from seawater through evaporation and table salt usually comes from rock salt, which is mined from mineral deposits. Here's why sea salt gets its health claim: sea salt doesn't contain iodine or any other additives, while table salt does. So in the end it's really a matter of preference of taste, texture, and if you care about additives or not. So if you're looking to skip the additives then you may opt to pay more for sea salt, but as far as sodium is concerned it's all the same. Oh, and in case you're wondering, Kosher Salt also does not contain additives and contains the same amount of sodium as sea salt and table salt.
This leads me to remind you that the RDI of salt, no matter the type, is 2,300 mg, or one teaspoon, at the most (though some think it should be more like 1,500 mg). I personally like to use sea salt because I think the taste is more prominent, which means I tend to use less of it.
Donna Karan
Aminaka Wilmont
Ruco Line
I thought sea salt was healthier because it contained minerals that are good for you.
1I love sea salt.
2wow, the whole world eats sea-salt because it has a lot of iodine, which some countries are lacking... but not US
did u notice that your studies proof something people in Europe knew since 1900?
3I love different kinds of salt - my mom got me a bottle of flaky pink sea salt from Australia that is totally ridiculous but fun to use.
Fit - I'm wondering why you didn't point out that table salt has iodine as an additive becuase we generally don't get it from any other source in our diets. Iodine is important in maintaining the thyroid (and preventing goiters).
4i always use sea salt over table
5another link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sea-salt/AN01142
And when people are trying to decrease their salt intake, they're really trying to lower their sodium intake. Some companies have developed salts with less sodium by utilizing other ions like Potassium. Those tend to have a more metallic taste.
6I use both kosher and iodized table salt because of what silly3 pointed out. Kosher, because I like the texture and table salt for the iodine. Our family tends to have very, very low blood pressure (including me) so salt isn't really a health issue for me in that way.
7I prefer sea salt for the taste. It is a lot more expensive, but at the same time it's not like I'm throwing globs of it in food.
8Very interesting, thank you for the new take on salt.
9I like coarse kosher salt; because I actually pinch it up with my fingers and can see the grains I'm not doing guesswork about how much I'm putting on there the way I do with table salt.
10SALT... if you don't use it.. then there isn't much to miss..
but, if you love salt, it's so hard to leave it alone.
one's taste becomes more and more dependent on adding more salt to taste, i think, because we get used to the flavor, and it is hard to enjoy food when one thinks something is missing in the flavor or taste of the food.. SALT!!!
but i know first hand about how when i reduced my salt intake, i lost like 30 pounds in 3 months just from water i retained, but i also ate more whole grains and fruits and veggies too.
but i've also shifted to using spices for flavor so i don't use as much salt.
11like bluecanary, i also have super low blood pressure (as in, fainting on occasion), so i love me some salt. thanks for explaining the difference.
12I use regular salt because I don't eat a lot of seafood and therefore, I don't get a lot of iodine in my diet. So I eat the iodized stuff most of the time.
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