During a conversation with a medical doctor, he said that salt is salt, and it doesn't matter what type you use. While in a very narrow spectrum that statement is true in regards to sodium chloride, there are many differences between different types of salt.
The differences are mainly in the type of refining, manufacturing and processing. Lets take a look at common table salt compared to Celtic sea salt.
Table salt and Celtic sea salt are both made from the same basic ingredients: sodium chloride and trace minerals. But there are a few key differences between the two that make one more beneficial than the other.
Some table salt is iodized, which means that it contains a small amount of iodine. It's also highly refined, meaning it has been processed to remove impurities and other minerals, which can make it less healthy than unrefined salt. If you do use regular table salt, make sure it is iodized.
Table salt is a refined product of sodium chloride, which means it contains no other minerals. Because it has been stripped of its original minerals, it can actually be harmful to your health. Not to mention all the additives they put in it! And because table salt has all of its minerals removed, it doesn't help to balance the blood pressure. Consequently, table salt causes gross blood pressure fluctuations, instead of stabilizing it. This well-known danger has created an entire industry of "low sodium" foods.
It is also treated with anti-caking agents to prevent it from clumping together. This means that it's less effective at dissolving in water, which means that your body absorbs less of it when you eat it. It also has a higher sodium content than most people's bodies need. Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Refined, processed table salt contains ferrocyanide, talc, and silica aluminate. Aluminum intake leads to neurological disorders, particularly when no selenium is provided to help the body to chelate it. Aluminum bio-accumulates inside the body, causing further degeneration over time. Talc is a known carcinogen, though its effects upon ingestion have not been heavily studied.
While it was once used in baby powders, the majority of such products now use cornstarch instead of talc, because of the known health risks. The F.D.A. has a special provision to allow talc in table salt, even whilst it is prohibited in all other foods, due to toxicity issues. According to current regulations, table salt can be up to 2% talc.- Thanks a lot FDA!
Celtic sea salt, on the other hand, comes from evaporated seawater that's been naturally filtered through layers of sand, gravel, clay and granite over thousands of years. Meaning that it contains only natural ingredients with no additives or chemicals. Its coarse texture also means that it dissolves quicker than table salt in liquids like soups and stews, which helps your body absorb more nutrients from food.
It is unrefined, and therefore not iodized or refined. It is harvested from seawater in France, where the water contains over 80 different trace minerals. These include calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron, all of which are essential for our bodies. It also contains lower amounts of iodine, which supports healthy thyroid function and helps prevent goiter (an enlarged thyroid gland). While the amount of iodine in Celtic sea salt is reportedly lower than processed table salt, it is an all-natural, pure source of iodine that is quickly absorbed and stored by your body.
So I would say that Celtic Sea Salt is a healthier option over table salt any day.
Remember the key to beneficial salt intake is to get in the right amount. Not too much or too little. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg a day for mostly healthy adults. And no more than 1,500 mg per day, for adults with hypertension or heart disease.
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