Everyone is familiar with the iodized salt used for cooking found in grocery stores, but there are also other salt options available.
Salt types include:
- Table salt – common iodized or non iodized salt
- Kosher salt – larger, less refined table salt good for brining
- Sea salt – less refined with more trace minerals than table salt
- Himalayan pink salt – harvested by hand in Pakistan, thought to be the purest form of salt and has over 84 types of trace minerals, good as a finishing salt
- Celtic sea salt – contains the minerals magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium and has the lowest amount of sodium
- Fleur de Sel – from France and used as a finishing salt
- Himalayan black salt – used in vegan cooking to simulate the taste of eggs
- Flake salt – dissolves quickly and used as a finishing salt
- Black Hawaiian salt – comes from Hawaii and has activated coconut charcoal added to it
- Red Hawaiian Salt – comes from Hawaii and contains iron
- Persian Blue – a rare, higher priced salt from Iran
- Smoked – sea salt smoked over a bed of coals
Each type of salt is mined from a different area and has it’s own texture. Some are large and coarse while others are smaller and dissolve easier. Some contain more minerals than others. However, the minerals aren’t in high enough amounts to provide a significant health impact.
I like to use this Celtic sea salt in the first cup of water I drink after waking up to re-hydrate with a few electrolytes. It was recommended by a thyroid doctor that I follow online, just ust use a very small pinch though.
I think every type of salt has it’s own purpose. The less refined, the better, but iodized table salt is a good way to get iodine since it’s good for thyroid health and is only in a handful of foods like fish and sea vegetables.
It’s not healthy to have an excess of salt, but the body needs sodium, so don’t be afraid of salt, just don’t overdo it, which is easy to do, and make sure to get your sodium levels tested to ensure they stay in range. Also track your blood pressure if you are going to increase your current sodium intake. You don’t want to accidentally increase your blood pressure too. If you currently have high blood pressure, try lowering your salt intake. If you have a tendency to use too much salt, try switching out some of it with black pepper.
Challenge:
Switch up the salts you use. Put a small pinch of Celtic sea salt or Himalayan salt in your first glass of water for the day or try using Fleur de Sel as a meat seasoning. Just be mindful of how much salt you are using. The body only needs about 1500 milligrames. It doesn’t take much to increase your sodium levels, which leads to health issues like high blood pressure, weight gain and water retention.
Resources:
https://www.purelyplanted.com/post/which-type-of-salt-is-healthiest
https://www.ecowatch.com/9-different-kinds-of-salt-which-is-the-healthiest-1891079937.html
https://www.verywellfit.com/what-kind-of-salt-is-healthiest-4157937
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326519#summary
https://www.thehealthy.com/nutrition/healthiest-salt/
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More Salt Resources