In the age of being told to look after our heart, why and how is sea salt better for us than table salt?

Answer 1

Salt is not salt.

Sea salt contains a higher percentage of Potassium Chloride (KCl) than table salt which is mainly sodium Chloride (NaCl). It is the sodium content of salt that can cause damage if too much is ingested. The sodium content of the body's blood, interstitial and intracellular fluids is the key determinant in the volume of water the body retains.

Generally the more water the higher your blood pressure.

Substituting the sodium with potassium helps to lower the associated risks of excess salt intake.

However excess potassium ingestion hasw problems of its own including dysfuntioning of electrically active cells (heart, nerves, muscles). But the concentrations needed are quite high.

Answer 2

Potasium

Table salt is common Sodium Cloride, but that does not make all salt sodium Cloride.

In fact there are a great number of different ionic compounds in the "Salt" category. Each is better or worse for your than the others.

Sea Salt is a nice blend of these salts with an abundance of KCl (Potasium Cloride)...

The biomechanical machines we call our bodies have a great number of needs, and those needs are best met by a great variety of things. As such, having a variety of salts in our diet in the form of Sea Salt is healthier than the single NaCl (sodium Cloride)...

But again... For that Heart Health... Potasium is good, and Sodium is bad. Sea Salt give more KCl and less NaCl...

Answer 3

Sea salt isn't better for your heart than table salt. Sure, it has some potassium and magnesium and a few other things in it -- but you're getting all that from your food anyway. You're probably getting enough sodium chloride from your food too. So, nix on the salt, buddy.

Answer 4

Sea salt is less processed, and has other minerals in with the salt. These other minerals provide trace elements that are hard to get in a normal diet.

Answer 5

salt is salt don't believe everything you read

just to add to the confusion the vast majority of the salt we ingest is contained in processed foods unless you HEAVILY salt your foods then the majority will still be sodium chloride

the trace minerals may have a small benefit but the main one we need is iodine which is added to your regular salt

as for the one PROFESSIONAL answer he neglected to mention that this is one of those contended scientific subjects - the important thing is to restrict your salt intake IF NEEDED and not the type

Answer 6

Sometimes dextrose (sugar) is added to table salt - always read the label to make sure you're getting just salt!

Also I agree with the potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride thing - better to get a balance of the two than just sodium chloride. Too much sodium chloride does you no favours.

Answer 7

Sea salt contains many trace elements which are beneficial to the human body.

Answer 8

certain salts have chemicals added to them, sea/rock salt is salt at its most natural form and its quite chunky- I.e. its not gone through the process that fine salt does.

Answer 9

sea salt contain less sodium "the bad thing in salt" it also doesn't contain anti-caking agents etc

Answer 10

It is less refined and it is the refined foods that do the most harm.