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Sea Salt vs Table Salt – Which is Better?

Table salt vs. sea salt – the debate is real and a serious one. The importance of salt is realized when it is missing from our food. Used as a flavouring agent in cooking and baking, it neutralizes bitterness, acts as a preservative and enhances the taste of dishes. Salt is made up of sodium and chloride, both minerals which are essential for biological functions like nerve communication, proper blood pressure, and other metabolic processes. Human bodies are 28% mineral salts and other material and 72% water. Our body has fluid material inside the cells and outside the cells. When both these fluids are balanced, the body is healthy. It is salt that is responsible for achieving this balance. Eaten in moderation, it is life-nourishing. Consumed in excess, it increases the blood pressure as it binds with water in the blood.

Salt has got bad press in recent times due to its link to blood pressure and hypertension. Doctors believe that the salt in the processed food is more worrisome than the salt in our regular diets. Those who have hypertension must stay away from junk and processed food as it has a very high percentage of sodium.

Salt is obtained by evaporating water from salt mines or evaporation of seawater. Go out to buy salt, and you will be confronted with a range of choices. There are different kinds of salts- each with varied texture, shade, and cost. Which is better- table salt or sea salt? We put the age-old debate to rest.

Table Salt

No matter what kind you prefer, all salt is made of sodium chloride. Table salt is the most common variety that has been around for a long time. It is formed by evaporating natural salt, subjecting it to very high temperatures. This destroys most of its beneficial properties. It is then processed for purification, and all the other contaminants are removed. In this process, even the essential minerals, which are a part of its chemistry, are also stripped off. So that it flows freely, anti-caking agents like magnesium carbonate, silicon dioxide, and sodium aluminosilicate are added. These hamper the salt’s ability to absorb moisture from the air. Then iodine is added to it to avoid iodine-deficiency diseases.

Sea Salt

This is the salt that is obtained from the seawater. When the sea salt is crystallized from open-air evaporation, it is usually sold at a higher cost. The vacuum evaporation method is quicker as compared to open-air evaporation as the product thus obtained is cheaper. This salt can be sold in its unrefined form or a more refined avatar. When it is coarse, it has a greyish tinge due to clay and sediment impurities. Algae, minerals, and marine bacteria add to its colour and flavour. Refined sea salt is washed to remove the minerals, sediment deposits and is purified much like the table salt. Depending on the manner in which it was crystallized, it can be flaky or not.

Sea salt has traces of iodine but not as much as iodized salt. Care must be taken that in the times that we live in, our seas and oceans are not bereft of pollution. The biggest threat is microplastics, but then they have infiltrated everything.

Apart from table salt being rich rich in iodine all other minerals are much more in sea salt. I recommend a mixture of these salts.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Table salt vs. Sea salt: Which is Better?

Sea salt has gained popularity in recent times. Most chefs prefer to use that in their dishes as it has a stronger flavour and provides an element of crunch. It might be more popular as a healthier alternative but the point to be noted is that the sodium content in both- sea salt and table salt- is the same.

Those who are in favour of sea salt argue that the difference between table salt vs. sea salt is akin to the difference between refined flour and refined sugar as compared to whole wheat flour and palm sugar. They believe that the industrial processes have stripped the salt of any positive qualities by processing it until it reaches a bare minimum of nutrition. Those who differ in their viewpoint believe that the amount of salt consumed daily is so less that it hardly makes any difference.

Although both sea salt and table salt have the same nutritional value and the same sodium content, eating both of them in moderation is very critical as higher than recommended consumption may lead to an increase in blood pressure, heart disease and multiple other health conditions in the long term.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D

Table salt vs. Sea salt: Presence of Minerals

The presence of trace minerals is another point of difference. Sea salt has more percentage of magnesium and potassium and calcium. However, they are present in such minute quantities that the variation in table salt is negligible. Since these minerals can be obtained from a well-balanced diet, it hardly makes sea salt better than table salt.

Also Read: Celtic Salt Benefits: Uncovering Unique Health Advantages in Research

Table salt vs. Sea salt: What is the real difference?

The only benefit of choosing sea salt over table salt is that one will avoid anti-caking agents and other additives in a more natural form. So whichever option you want to depend on your preference of taste, texture, and colour, use that salt in moderation to avoid problems of high blood pressure. Many people give up eating salt entirely and begin showing signs of deficiency like muscle cramps, decreased hydration, weakness, headaches, cognitive decline in older adults. It has many benefits like:

  1. Hydration

Eating salt helps you to stay hydrated. Water follows salt. So if you want to have sufficient fluid balance, you will need to eat salt.

  1. Prevents Cramps

Salt prevents muscular cramps due to the presence of electrolytes. Without proper amounts of electrolytes, the body will suffer from fatigue, nausea, seizures and irregular heartbeat.

  1. Important for Nerve Health

Nerves require salt to conduct their impulses. By cutting out salt entirely from your diet, you will create a neural imbalance.

  1. Good for Dental Health

Many dentists’ advise rinsing the mouth with salt water to ward off cavities, improve gum disease, sores, ulcers and infections in the mouth. It soothes inflammation in the gums.

         5. Salt Deficiency

Salt deficiency is known as hyponatremia, meaning a low presence of sodium in the blood. Since sodium is essential to regulating water amounts down to the cellular level, sodium deficiency can cause your cells to fill with water. Hyponatremia can lead to mild or extremely severe symptoms ranging from nausea, headaches and confusion to cramps, seizures and coma. Treatment is usually cutting back on fluids and resupplying the body with electrolytes via IV. Whether you’re still concerned about Sea Salt vs Table Salt, you need to ensure that you get enough of this essential nutrient.

While the table salt vs. sea salt debate is still on, the main focus should be on ‘moderation’. This is the key to good health, i.e. consume salt moderately and cut down on processed foods.

Also Read: The Health Perks of Green Salt: An Exploration into Its Benefits

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

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Diabetes And Salt: How Much Is Too Much?

While everyone should reduce their dietary salt, those who have diabetes have more reasons to be careful about their sodium intake. People with high sugar levels are more prone to high blood pressure and its adverse effects like cardiovascular and kidney disease and even stroke. While salt consumption has reduced considerably over the years, we need to take a more close look at salt and how it hides in the most innocuous food items in our daily diet. Read on to know more about diabetes and salt.

Why is salt bad for diabetics?

For most diabetics, it is the carbohydrates that are red-flagged in the diet. But salt is a hidden enemy too. Sodium, a predominant component of salt, is an essential mineral that is responsible for electrolyte balance in the body. It helps to maintain fluid balance in the body and is needed for proper nerve and muscle function. When there is an excess of sodium in the body, it leads to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing heart disease. This means diabetes and salt are a big NO.Sodium affects the body’s insulin resistance. Research has proved that those who have diabetes are four times more likely to suffer from heart disease compared to regular people. This is because most people who have high sugar levels are overweight or obese, have a high amount of LDL (bad cholesterol) and generally have a sedentary lifestyle. Restricting the amount of your salt intake can tilt the balance in your favour and keep heart disease at bay. Not just this, too much salt is also linked to stomach cancer. Even those who do not have diabetes are at risk of developing the disease if they consume too much salt.Read More: Understanding Blood Sugar Levels

Sources of salt

Apart from the salt, you sprinkle over your food; there are many other ways in which it sneaks its way into our diets. Patients with diabetes must ensure that they limit their intake of the following food items.
  1. Processed Food: This is the main culprit of adding excess salt to our diets. Ready meals, takeaways, and anything that comes in a packet or a box are going to have more than your daily recommended dosage of salt.
  1. Salted Snacks: There is a reason why you must avoid that popcorn, salted nuts, cookies, and other snacks as they are full of salt and spoil the electrolyte balance in your body.
  1. Chinese Food: Soy sauce is full of salt, and it is one of the main ingredients of Chinese cooking. If you can avoid adding it to the dishes, you can have your Chinese food.
  1. Accompaniments: Ketchup, chutneys, mayonnaise, and pickles are brimming with salt. Please avoid adding these to your diet if you have diabetes.
  1. Bread and Cereal: Look for other healthier options for your breakfast as the bread and cereal menu is out. Both of these items have a high amount of sodium and increase the risk of high blood pressure. Bread is the number one
  1. Canned Food: Canned soup, beans, mushrooms are all high in salt. Choose the fresh varieties over the canned ones to reduce your salt intake.
  1. Instant Soups: These are another swift option for a meal, but they are bad for your health due to high sodium content.
  1. Restaurant Food: Those who eat out regularly have a high risk of suffering from heart disease than those who cook at home because restaurants use salt liberally in their dishes. Other foodstuffs include:
Read More: 4 Best Foods For Diabetics

How to reduce your salt intake?

Those who have diabetes should limit their salt intake to 2,300 milligrams per day. If someone also has hypertension, they must not eat more than 1,500 milligrams of salt per day. There are many steps you can take to reduce the salt in your diet. Here are a few steps.
  1. Instead of sprinkling salt through the shaker, measure it out in a spoon and then add to your food. Reduce the quantity you eat gradually.
  1. Avoid eating processed food. Also, eat out less frequently. Cook at home and use as many fresh ingredients as possible. Eat fresh fruits and salads to improve your health quotient.
  1. Avoid ready-made meals as much as possible.
  1. Read the labels of packaged food items. Choose those who have comparatively less sodium content.
  1. Break the habit of adding salt to your food without tasting it. This unconscious habit harms us more than we realize.
  1. Add other spices to food. Good choices are paprika, pepper, chives, or oregano. These add flavour without harming the health.
  1. Lemon juice is another option to add flavour to food.
  1. Ginger, garlic, coriander, basil, and mint are other herbs that add a punch of flavour to any curry or sauce. Vinegar, too, helps to enhance the taste.
  1. Choose homemade hummus over mayonnaise or ketchup.
  1. Choose reduced-salt versions of ketchup, mustard, and other sauces.
  1. Make your tomato salsa to replace the store-bought ketchup.
  1. Avoid adding stock cubes or gravy granules.
  1. If you must use canned food items, look for the ones who are immersed in spring water rather than in brine.
  1. Prefer to add sea salt rather than the regular table salt.
  1. The market offers undoubtedly reduced sodium salts. These are great if you do not have kidney disease as these replace sodium with potassium. Talk to your doctor before switching over to these.
Also Read: Worst Foods for Oedema: A Research-Backed Guide for Dietary Awareness

Conclusion

Sodium levels have a telling effect on the health of those who have diabetes. Talk to your nutritionist or your doctor on how to curb your salt intake. Remember, balance is the key to maintain good health. Diabetes and salt are not a healthy combination.Read More: 5 Diet Tips for DiabetesDisclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
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