Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Is sea salt better than regular salt?

A few weeks ago I presented to a group of limited-resource individuals.  While discussing the relationship between sodium consumption and hypertension (high blood pressure), one of the women asked me if sea salt was better than iodized table salt.  At the time, I gave her a basic answer: 

Table salt is iodized, which means it contains iodine, a necessary mineral.  Sea salt is created by the evaporation of seawater and contains some trace minerals, which some people believe make food taste better.  Sea salt is (usually) not refined nor iodized.  However, both types of salt contain sodium, which should be consumed in small quantities.  Therefore, it does not matter which type you choose as long as you limit consumption.

In retrospect, here are some other factors to consider:

Iodine is important for healthy function of the thyroid gland, and iodine deficiency contributes to hypothyroidism.  Therefore, if you have a family history of hypothyroidism, it may be best to choose an iodized salt.

Sea salt usually costs more than store brand table salt.  Therefore, if you are a limited-resource individual, it is recommended that you choose the less expensive salt and use the money saved to purchase fruit and vegetables, which have a greater health benefit than the type of salt you use.