Truth or Myth: Is Sea Salt Better for Me Than Table Salt?
Salt is composed of two elements: sodium and chloride. Chloride provides salt with that distinctive "salty" taste and sodium is the element which can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure if you consume too much. Sea salt is often promoted as more healthful than table salt, leading many to believe that it contains less sodium. This however, is FALSE! Sea salt contains about the same amount of sodium as table salt, between 400-590 mg per ΒΌ teaspoon
1, and therefore comes with the same health risks as table salt. The
2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting sodium to less than 2300 mg/day, with more stringent recommendations for certain populations
2. The only difference between the two salts is that sea salt does contain a very small amount of other minerals which may offer different flavors and textures while cooking. These minerals do not significantly change the nutritional content of sea salt. One disadvantage to sea salt is that it is typically more expensive than table salt.
If you are looking for ways to help lower your sodium intake, your best options are to use a salt substitute or to use a variety of herbs and spices to season your food. Use caution with dried herbs or spices which contain the word salt, for example garlic salt, which still contain sodium.
Verdict: MYTH! Sea salt is NOT better for you than table salt.
1American Dietetic Association. Iodized Salt, Sea Salt, or Kosher Salt, Oh My! April 2010. Accessed: http://www.eatright.org/Media/Blog.aspx?id=4294968231&blogid=269&terms=sea+salt
2Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. Accessed: http://www.dietaryguidelines.gov