Sea salt is marketed as being a healthier alternative to table salt, but in reality, the two have the same basic nutritional value. If you prefer the taste and texture of sea salt, then by all means, continue to use it; it’s just not any healthier.
What’s the difference between the two? Sea salt comes from evaporated seawater, while table salt comes from underground mines. Both contain roughly 2,300 milligrams of sodium per teaspoon, but the real difference is how they are processed – sea salt is more naturally processed, leaving behind certain trace minerals and elements depending on its water source. However, in order to obtain a meaningful dose, you’d have to consume potentially dangerous, high levels of sodium! Table salt is more heavily processed to eliminate minerals, but also contains added iodine, an essential nutrient that is lacking in sea salt.
Bottom line: salt is salt. Too much sodium in you diet is harmful to your health, leading to high blood pressure and other health problems. If you end up using more sea salt than you would table salt, it’s doing more harm than good – to your health and your wallet!
Try and limit total sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams a day (that’s just one teaspoon!), or 1,500 milligrams if you’re age 51 or older, if you are black, have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Try to avoid products with more than 200 mg of sodium per serving, and put away that salt shaker!
