Getting back to basics is the theme for this videoblog, which focuses on choosing a healthy salt to use in your home. Salt has a bad rap these days getting the blame for conditions such as high blood pressure, hypertension, water retention, and bloating, among others. ”Salt” and “sodium” seem to be used interchangeably, but in reality, they are not exactly the same. ”Sodium” is white salt with only 2 minerals in it (NACL – sodium chloride) that is used everywhere and in large quantities in processed foods. It is the result of excessive processing of natural sea salt, which normally contains an abundance of health giving minerals.
THIS is the salt that should be avoided.
On the other hand, there is natural sea salt. One of the most popular, celtic sea salt contains over 80 minerals, including iodine, and is part of a healthy diet. It imparts superior flavor to food and helps normalize all functions in the body that require salt to take place such as protein and carbohydrate digestion, brain development in children, and optimal functioning of the adrenal glands. It is a necessary part of a healthy diet and should not be avoided. It is my opinion (if someone has seen a study on this, please post in the comments section), that people crave salt and eat too much sodium/white salt because they are mineral deficient and in need of natural sea salt with all its beneficial minerals. Use of real sea salt may relieve these salt cravings as the body is finally getting all the trace minerals it needs.
Be wary of highly processed salts on the market advertised as sea salt. If a salt is white, that is your clue that it is highly processed no matter what it is called. Select a sea salt that has color to it, some are even pink! A truly healthy salt will have color indicating the presence of other minerals besides just sodium chloride. Making this change in your home is a critical first step to health. And, if you have already made other changes to your diet for the better but are still using white salt, today is your day to make this change.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks so much for the videos and the good information you regularly give us. I have made a lot of changes based on your recommendations. You make it easy. Thanks again
What about kosher salt?
Thanks for a great blog!
It is my understanding that the term kosher refers to how a food is handled/processed (assuming the food is an acceptable kosher food to begin with, which salt would be). As a result, there are probably some highly processed salts that are considered kosher that would not be a healthy choice. There are also probably unprocessed sea salts that are certified kosher as well. These would be the ones to seek out.
I am trying to be a local food fighter, and salt is difficult…do you know of any other sources for salt around the U.S., besides Utah? I'm in Georgia.
Just checked my Redmond RealSalt and it is kosher certified!
Hi Jennifer, the only source of real sea salt in North America is in Utah, from what I know. Salt has not traditionally been a locally produced commodity, hence the highly profitable salt routes of centuries past. I think good quality sea salt is one item that is understandable to not buy locally if it simply isn't available.
Another use for processed salt is to kill fleas in carpets or on furniture. Shake over area, leave 24 hours, then vaccuum.
I would NOT use it as a salt scrub because your skin absorbs as much as 60% of what is put on it. The same minerals that are great for you internally are also great as a salt scrub. JMHO.
Thanks for more great nutritional information.
Thanks for the great tip about the fleas! That's an interesting point you have about using the white salt as a body exfoliator. I would be more worried about the additives in it than the sodium chloride being a problem on the skin. Thanks for the thought provoking comment.
I checked the salt I just picked up at our health foods store and- it WAS Redmond RealSalt!!! I was so excited that I had chosen the same one you recommended.
I remember you saying (I think here on the blog) that sea salt should be colorful- and not white- if it was true sea salt… so I picked it for it's color and midrange price. SO glad to know that my choice was a good one! 
Thanks again for all your awesome information!
Just a heads-up- http://www.bulkfoods.com has Organic Celtic Sea for sale in bulk. I got a 5lb bag, and it's really good quality.
Thanks again for the informative videos!
Thanks for posting about this great deal on Celtic Salt, Melissa.
I was so happy when I found Redmond’s in bulk at Whole Foods Market. What I have found, though, is that I’m struggling with the grit that it leaves behind. So when eating, I feel like I’m eating sand. Does anybody else have this? Maybe I just need to go to the Celtic Sea Salt. Any suggestions?
How did I not know this before!?! I am going today (just as soon as baby wakes from her nap) and getting Redmond RealSalt and throwing out our Morton Salt! Why does the Morton Natural Sea Salt say it is ’100% Natural’? Clearly not because it is pure processed white! This concerns me about other foods that claim to be ‘natural’…
Thanks for putting this together! Do you know anything about Himalayan salt (pink)? I have just ordered some through a health supplement website but I am still not sure how this compares to Celtic sea salt. Also, will using sea salt provide enough iodine or should one supplement somehow with kelp, etc?
Hi Angela, I have both Celtic and Himalayan in my pantry (I have Redmond RealSalt too). They have similar flavor and mineral profiles. Each sea salt is unique and brings a slightly different flavor to your cooking. Enjoy them all and see which you prefer for what dishes!
And what about iodine? I have seen packages of sea salt that specifically warn “this product does not contain iodine”.
Very informative thank you! Question- Do you have any references that I can refer to support this statement you made “a salt is white, that is your clue that it is highly processed no matter what it is called. Select a sea salt that has color to it,” ? Not that I’m questioning you at all! Just want to read more about it and have sufficient information to pass along to others when they ask “how do you know?”
thanks!
Yes i would like to know what about the crucial component…Iodine? Redmond sea salt doesnt contain Iodine, what do u think are the best sources to get iodine?
Do you know anything about salt blocks? Amazon.com has himalayan salt blocks for around $2.00 per pound, which is much cheaper than the coursely ground salt. This is me just trying to be frugal wherever possible. If I ground it at home do you think that would be okay? I really have no idea. Thanks!
This is interesting. I was using regular white sea salt and was craving salt so bad. I put it on my fruit even. I saw pink salt crystals and decided to give it a try. My body is not longer craving salt and oddly some of my food even taste like I have added to much.
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