Hawaiian black lava, Himalayan pink, Bolivian rose, Peruvian pink
mountain spring. These aren’t nail
polish colors — they’re varieties of salt, and they’re just a sampling of the
dozens of options now available from specialty markets and online vendors. Sea
salts and other finishing salts have grown popular among chefs and foodies, who
use them to add interesting flavor notes and a pop of color to dishes. They
offer more complexity than standard table salt, which is processed to remove
minerals and other harmless impurities, giving the salt its bright white color
and uniform texture.
But trendy artisanal salts aren’t just being positioned as more
flavorful. Many producers and aficionados claim that sea salts are healthier
than table salt because they’re more natural and less refined. They’re also
praised for containing a bounty of essential trace minerals. And the alleged
advantages don’t stop there. Company websites promise that sea salts can
eliminate toxins, balance the body’s pH, boost circulation, enhance digestive
health, and supply antioxidants, to name a few purported benefits.
Seeing Through Sea Salt’s
Healthy Hype
These lavish claims aren’t supported by science. Specialty salt
purveyors, like so many other food companies, are playing into many consumers’
belief that natural must mean better for you. But from a health perspective,
salt is salt, and eating too much of it in any form can increase the risk for
high blood pressure and other downstream health problems. Also, salt isn’t a
good source of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The miniscule
amounts it contains don’t make a dent in your body’s requirements. Relying on
salt as a mineral source is equivalent to eating white pasta to boost your
fiber intake or guzzling honey to get more magnesium and iron in your diet —
it’s just not efficient, nor is it health-promoting.
Marketing salt as unrefined creates an undeserved health halo. When
grains are refined from their whole form, there is a substantial loss in
nutritional value. That’s not the case with refined salts because salt isn’t a
meaningful source of nutrients to begin with (except sodium and its partner
chloride, of course). The same goes for unrefined sugars like evaporated cane
juice and date sugar. And the glorification of unrefined salts and sugars takes
the focus off the truly important issue: that people need to eat less of these
ingredients. While health authorities still disagree about optimal sodium
intake for adults and how low recommendations should go, it’s clear that we are
currently consuming too much.
Whether you prefer regular table salt, kosher, or fancier varieties,
it’s important to use salt judiciously. In my experience, it’s easy to get
carried away with salts that come in large crystals or flakes because a light
sprinkling of granules looks sparse, but actually supplies a lot of sodium. My
advice is to use all salt sparingly and consciously underseason your food so
you can gradually adjust to using less. As an avid home cook myself, I know it
can be a struggle, but it will serve your heart well in the long run.
Salt: The Iodine Question
One major difference between table salt and specialty salts is the
iodine content. Standard table salt is voluntarily fortified with iodine, a
mineral that’s essential for normal thyroid function (a quarter teaspoon
supplies about 50 percent of the 150 micrograms adults need daily). Other
varieties, including kosher and sea salts, are not fortified and therefore
supply no iodine. The vast majority of salt used in processed foods also has no
added iodine. Iodized salt isn’t the only source of the nutrient, however. Fish
and shellfish, dairy products, bread and other grain products, and eggs supply
iodine as well. Federal survey data shows that most Americans have adequate
iodine levels, but some populations are at risk for low intake.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need extra iodine (220 and 290
micrograms, respectively), and approximately one-third of pregnant women in the
United States are marginally deficient. Iodine is critical for babies’ growth
and cognitive development, so it’s important to get enough. The American
Thyroid Association recommends that women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or
planning to become pregnant take a prenatal vitamin that includes 150
micrograms of iodine in the form of potassium iodide. If you are currently
taking a prenatal supplement, review the label to determine if contains iodine,
because some formulations still do not.
As a group, strict vegans appear to have lower iodine levels compared
to vegetarians and omnivores because many of the richest sources are of animal
origin. One good plant-based option is seaweed, which can be consumed in sushi
rolls, salads, or even the crunchy baked snacks that are now sold by some
mainstream companies. Seaweed can be highly concentrated in iodine, but the
amount is variable among different types, and you need to eat it consistently,
several times a week, for it to be a significant source. Consuming excessive
amounts can provide too much of the mineral, so it’s important not to go to
extremes.
Unfortunately, there is no reliable way to assess an individual’s
iodine level, so if you’re concerned, it’s best to work with a registered
dietitian or well-informed physician to determine if you might benefit from a
supplement. For individuals who may have a low iodine intake, using iodized
salt in place of other varieties when cooking is a good idea, but it’s not a
reason to sprinkle on more salt.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/is-sea-salt-really-healthier-or-just-overhyped_563149efe4b00aa54a4ca8b4?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living
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