Which is better: Table salt or Sea salt?

Which is better: Table salt or Sea salt?

Whether mined from deeply buried underground seabeds or harvested directly from the sea, the debate over which salt is better for you – table salt or sea salt – can be controversial. Some of us defend good old table salt as being the one and only “true” salt to use while others are into specialty salts such as sea salt to flavor their foods.

No matter which salt side you stand on, one thing is for sure, salt is all around us. Even though salt is found underground, the biggest source of salt is in our seas and oceans. In fact, there is almost an inexhaustible supply of salt from the sea providing an average of 26 million tonnes per cubic kilometer, which if extracted would cover the world’s total land mass to a depth of  almost 115 feet.   

The debate over which is better, table salt or sea salt, was partly started when  many food companies and food shows started adding sea salt in lieu of table salt.  Observant consumers have picked up on that change and have also started adding sea salt for everyday use.

To get a better idea of which may be better than the other, let’s take a look at what are the differences between the two.  Keep in mind, one standard difference between table or sea salt is in their taste, texture, and processing.  Here are the specifics on how each varies from one another:

Iodized Table Salt

This is probably the type most of us are familiar with and is commonly found in a majority of households.  Predominately used in cooking and when recipes call for salt, table salt is usually mined from underground salt deposits and is more heavily processed to eliminate minerals and usually contains an additive to prevent clumping. Table salt is composed of two minerals – sodium and chloride.  But one other essential mineral is often added to this mix – iodine.

Iodine is a critical micronutrient in the human diet.  Our body is unable to synthesize it so we rely on our food sources to obtain it. Naturally present in soil and seawater, the availability of iodine varies in regions of the world.  When the body lacks iodine, the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones which can result in an enlarged thyroid called a goiter. During pregnancy and early infancy, iodine deficiency can cause irreversible effects.  That’s why in 1924, when iodine deficiencies were rampant in the U.S., many food manufacturers in the U.S. began iodizing table salt.

One concern lately however, has been a reemergence of mild iodine deficiency, even though most Americans consume too much salt. If this is the case, what is causing this deficiency? One reason is that iodine fortification in salt is voluntary. Therefore, manufacturers of most sea salt, kosher salt and other types of salt do not always iodize their products. In addition, salt consumption from the shaker has declined and much of the salt consumed is form commercially processed food which almost always contains non-iodized salt. One good source of iodine is cow’s milk, however consumption of this beverage has declined over the years.

Sea Salt

Sea salt is produced through evaporation of ocean water or water from saltwater lakes, usually with little processing. Depending on the water source, this leaves behind certain trace minerals and elements.  The minerals add flavor and color to sea salt which also comes in a variety of coarseness levels. Do the minerals in sea salt increase their nutritional value? Not much.  Because the ocean is not a pure solution of sodium chloride, the end product retains minerals in trace amounts which is sort of a benefit but sea salt only supplies very negligible amounts of these nutrients compared to what you’d get in a balanced, varied diet.

Often, sea salt and other specialty salts like Himalayan salt, are being touted as healthier than table salt. Many food companies have started adding sea salt in place of table salt but as described above, iodine is not added to these products which could raise the risk of mild iodine deficiency.

One good thing about sea salt is that it does provide more of a taste punch when it comes to flavor. Many people find sea salt to be more flavorful – likely due to its mineral content – therefore they use less of it than table salt when seasoning food. Also sea salt tends to be more coarsely ground. This helps as larger salt crystals hold more air between them, and when measuring, less salt will fit into the same spoon.  One of the best reasons to perhaps use sea salt over table salt is to help develop a habit of using less salt than you normally would.

What about Kosher Salt?

Kosher salt is another type of salt that has gained in popularity.  Made by compacting smaller granular flakes into larger irregular platelet shaped flakes or grown this way via the evaporation process, it tastes less salty than table or sea salt. It is minimally refined and sourced from either underground deposits or evaporated seawater. Consumers like to use Kosher salt for its subtle flavor, it’s easy to pinch, and dissolves quickly. It also contains sodium chloride but not iodine, and is usually produced without additives. It’s usually used to rim margarita glasses and is perfect for cooking, brining, and as a topping for popcorn.

Kosher salt originally got its name from the Jewish practice of koshering meats.  When applied to butchered meat, its larger flakes allow the salt to easily draw blood without over-salting the meat.

The verdict

Basically as to which is better or healthier - table or sea salt – when it comes down to the nitty gritty chemical composition of each, they are really the same thing.  Each is made of sodium and chloride and they both come from seas – one from underground seabeds (table salt) and the other from water containing salt (sea salt).

The best verdict is that whichever type of salt you enjoy, do so in moderation. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans advises to limit sodium intake between 1500 to 2,300 milligrams a day which is equivalent to either 0.75 teaspoon or 3.75 grams of salt or one teaspoon or 6 grams of salt.