Is All Salt Created Equal?

Salt is a normal part of most American’s daily lives. It is used in cooking to enhance flavor and appearance, preserving foods and meats, and found naturally in foods. Salt is a mineral comprised of sodium and chlorine, which are both essential for different functions in the body.  Sodium is an electrolyte that regulates fluid in and outside of cells, controls blood pressure, and helps with muscle and nerve function. Chlorine is used in brain, nerve, and muscle function and helps remove toxins. 

Different Types of Salt

There are many different types of salt that have become popular over the past few years. These include refined salt, sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, and kosher salt. 

• Refined Salt (Regular Table Salt) 
• Mined from salt deposits 
• Heavily ground to a fine texture with most impurities and trace minerals removed
• Anti-caking agents usually added to avoid clumping
• Can have iodine added to prevent iodine deficiency 
• Sea Salt
• Obtained by the evaporation of seawater 
• Course texture with minimal processing leaving trace minerals like magnesium, potassium, iron, and calcium 
• Popular in restaurants and food companies – used as “all natural” 
• The darker the salt, the higher the trace minerals and impurities. Due to ocean pollution, can contain trace amounts of heavy metals and microplastics. 
• Himalayan Pink Salt
• Mined in Pakistan near the Himalayas
• Usually has a more course texture from minimal processing
• Contains trace minerals potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron which give it its pink color. The pink color makes it more visually appealing. 
• Chefs use blocks of Himalayan pink salt as cooking surfaces and serving dishes
• Kosher Salt
• Complies with strict dietary standards of traditional Jewish law
• Kosher salt usually comes as flakes, which makes it easy to spread on foods and it then dissolves into the food
• Usually does not contain additives like iodine or anti-caking agents 
• Due to the texture, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt weighs a lot less than a teaspoon of table salt. Kosher salt cannot be equally substituted for other salts. 

Is one of these forms of salt better for your health than the others?

Overall there is no evidence that one salt is better than the other. All salts can have negative health consequences when overeaten.  

Why is this important?
 

Nine out of 10 American adults consume more sodium than recommended. The average intake is 3400 mg per day. The recommended intake is 1500-2300 mg per day. More than 70% of sodium consumption comes from processed and restaurant foods as opposed to salt added at the table. One teaspoon of table salt equals about 2300 mg of sodium, 575 mg of sodium per ¼ teaspoon of salt. Check the label of different types of salt to compare sodium content. Most all salts are very similar in sodium content.

Health risks associated with too much sodium include:

• Elevate Blood Pressure
• Increased Fluid Retention 
• Kidney Disease/Kidney Stones
• Heart Failure/Enlarged Heart Muscle
• Stroke
• Headaches
• Osteoporosis
• Stomach Cancer 

How to decrease sodium/salt intake?

• Read food labels – note serving size and number of servings per container
• Very Low Sodium – 35 mg or less per serving
• Low Sodium – 140 mg or less per serving


Choose more whole foods without added sauces or seasonings like fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits, whole grains like brown rice and quinoa, low fat dairy products, and fresh meats without added sodium. 
Use lemon juice, herbs, peppers, and salt free seasonings when cooking 
Taste food before adding salt 
When eating out, read nutrition information if available, request no additional salt added to foods, ask for sauces/dressings on the side, and eat smaller portions (split meals, take half home)

If you have any questions about salt, please log into your account and send us your question. We are here to help.

 Libbi Calloway MS, RD, LD