Sunday, October 23, 2011

Sea Salt vs. Regular Table Salt

Believe it or not, salt is good for your health! But why do we often hear our doctors advise us to stay away from salt or salt-treated foods? Yet we need salt to balance our diet. So are all salt the same? What really makes sea salt different from a regular salt? Let us take a closer look on the big difference between regular table salt and sea salt.

Our old table salt is highly refined, going through a process that removes the magnesium and trace minerals. Various additives are added, like aluminum compound to keep it dry. The natural iodine is destroyed during its refining process and only added back in the form of potassium iodide. As for sea salt, it is naturally dried under the heat of the sun. Therefore retains its natural iodine from the sea. It also means there is still large mineral content. With sea salt you don’t need to use too much of it since it has much stronger flavor than table salt.

According to Ayurveda doctors, sea salts are the most beneficial forms of salt because they don’t increase the sodium content of blood, unlike regular table salt. It is highly recommended for patients with high blood pressure. It is also a rejuvenator while aiding digestion and improving eyesight.

Types of sea salt:

Kosher Salt is a form of sodium chloride. Kosher salt is allowed to remain a more coarse-grained salt, meaning that the structure of Kosher salt under a microscope looks like a series of cubes stacked on top of each other, rather than a single grain. Because Kosher salt is not heavily refined or iodine treated, it has a flavor which many chefs consider to be more pure. For this reason, it is favored for seasoning in professional kitchens.

Black Salt is a unique type of Indian volcanic rock salt. It is actually purple to pinkish grey in color rather than black and has a very distinctive sulfurous mineral taste, rather like hard-boiled egg yolks. It is mined from the volcanic regions of Pakistan and India. Black Salt is used in Indian cuisine as a condiment. According to India’s classical medical science, Ayurveda, black salt is full of therapeutic benefits. It is rich in iron, and is a cure for flatulence and heartburn.

Maldon English Sea Salt is a fabulous pure crystal salt. It comes from Essex, which is located in Southeastern England. This fine salt is harvested by a family run business that has been panning salt since 1882. Currently, it has received a good deal of very favorable press, making it a very sought after salt. It is known for its pyramid-shaped soft flaky crystal and stunning white color. There is something very appealing about its appearance, and the flavor is also quite delightful. Maldon salt is drier than the many of the other French sea salts.

Himalayan Pink Salt is a pure, hand-mined salt that is derived from ancient sea salt deposits, and it is believed to be the purest form of salt available. The high mineral crystals range in color from sheer white, varying shades of pink, to deep reds, the result of high mineral and iron content. The Himalayan Pink Salt offered by Mountain Rose Herbs is “Gourmet Food Grade”, the highest quality of Himalayan salt available. It is used by holistic chefs, spas, health professionals, and individuals for its range of nutritional and therapeutic properties. Regular consumption of Himalayan Pink Salt provides essential minerals, trace elements, balances electrolytes, supports proper nutrient absorption, eliminates toxins, balances the body’s pH, and normalizes blood pressure, and increases circulation and conductivity. It can also assist with relief from arthritis, skin rashes, psoriasis, herpes, and flu and fever symptoms.

Grey Sea Salt or Sel Gris is an all natural sea salt from Guerande in Brittany France. Being unprocessed and unrefined this salt highlights food flavors. The taste of Sel Gris is the complex balance of the sea and her minerals with large grey crystals, a moist texture. It is excellent for seasoning meats and vegetables.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and discover the wonders of sea salts!

Source: http://www.bewellbuzz.com/nutrition/sea-salt/

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