Ingredient Information

Function

Sea salt is more expensive than common table salt and, unlike table salt, it is not chemically refined with harmful chemicals. It contains many essential minerals that the body needs to be healthy. It is usually used in gourmet cooking, especially sprinkled over potato chips. Sea salt is coarser than table salt, which may offer a different texture and flavor due to a distinct rate of dissolution.

Sea salt is also used as a preserving agent, as it dehydrates cured meats and other food preparations, not allowing most microorganisms grow.

Other Use and Industries

Sea salt is used in soap making and some cosmetics such as soaps and bathing salts.

Health Effects

Sea salt contains iodine, an essential element, whereas salts that come from other sources must be iodized in order to prevent goutier and other thyroidal conditions.

In the human body, an unbalanced intake of salt can cause cramps, dizziness or an electrolyte disturbance which can lead to neurological problems and death. Drinking water in excess combined with a low intake of salt can cause hyponatremia, or “water poisoning”.

Sodium present in sea salt and table salt is a necessary electrolyte for proper body function; a normal physiological solution is approximately 0.9% NaCl.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the effects of consuming sea salt and table salt are the same as they are both mainly sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is associated with high blood pressure, stroke, cardiovascular disease, edema, left ventricular hypertrophy and other medical conditions.

Some special diets should require a lower intake of salt; a diet for renal failure would be low in sodium and potassium.

Sea salt's health consequences are similar to table salt's, although the iodine content in sea salt is almost negligible.

Sea salt can be very effective in reducing high blood pressure or stabilizing racing heart beat. It is believed to be a strong antihistamine because of the presence of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which help to relieve dry cough and prevent mucus accumulation inside the lungs, resulting in better conditions for asthmatic patients.

Sea salt also works as an antiseptic. It also aides weight loss, as it helps the body in producing digestive juices.

Since salt is necessary to clear the kidneys of excess acidity, sea salt can also be consumed for this purpose.

Sea salt is free of additive elements such as aluminum silicate, found in ordinary table salt, which is also believed to be a primary reason for Alzheimer’s disease. Conditions like depression and muscle spasms are effectively treated by consuming moderate amounts of sea salt.

Origins

The primary method of sea salt production is evaporation of the sea brine. In warm, dry climates this is accomplished with the use of sunlight, in other climates a fuel-baser energy is used, which elevates the cost of production. For this reason, sea salt is mainly produced in warm climates like the Mediterranean.

Sea salt is prepared by evaporating sea water. Unlike table salt, which is chemically heated, sea salt is dried in the sun so that it does not lose its essential minerals. Sea salt used to be called bay salt or solar salt. Seawater is composed of salt ions, like chloride, sodium, sulfate, magnesium, calcium, potassium, bromide, borate and other miscellaneous constituents.