All About Salt

I have always wondered what the difference is between table salt, sea salt, and kosher salt.  I went is search to find out more about all three.  In the store you will notice a large variety of salt.  I feel the stores today offer to many choices.  It can get really confusing to decide what to buy with so many choices.  It seems like you have to read the labels really well or you may come home with something you didn't want.  I also factor in the price of the product and that helps me decide quicker on which to buy.  Some of the salt in the store can cost under a dollar to well over six dollars.

If you watch cooking shows on the television you hear the cook adding sea salt to their recipes.  They make it seem like sea salt and crushed black pepper are better than table salt and ground pepper.   Using sea salt seems to be the "in thing" to do if you are a serious cook.  If you are a serious shopper on a budget its not so important.  The difference is minimal between the three salts as the information in this article will explain.  The choice you make with salt will come down to your taste and budget or for some because its the hip thing to do.

Sea Salt:
There is no difference in the chemical makeup of salt.  Table and sea salt both contain  the same amount of sodium chloride.  Sea salt tends to taste better do to the trace minerals and minimal processing.  Sea salt is unrefined and comes from the sea.  It has important minerals such as iron, sulfur, magnesium, and other trace elements.  Due to these minerals sea salt has a better flavor.    Sea salt comes from evaporated man-made pools along the sea and is not boiled or treated (minimally processed).  This lack of processing and impurities of the sea water has also been a cause of health concern by some.

Table Salt: (or Iodized--which is table salt with added iodine)
Table salt is mined from underground salt deposits.  It is heavily processed and this strips away the minerals.  Table salt usually contains iodine which is an essential nutrient that is not found in sea salt.  When you purchase table salt be sure to read the label for they all do not contain iodine.   
Kosher Salt:
This salt gets its name from the Kosher process.  The salt itself is not Kosher but used to make meat Kosher.  Kosher salt contains no iodine or additives.  It is used in recipes to make a salt crust on food.  Many cooks like Kosher salt for its texture.  

In conclusion: Sea salt is minimally processed and comes from the sea.  It contains trace minerals and is a more natural choice.  It also comes in various textures.  Sea salt taste less salty than table salt.  Table salt is mined from underground and heavily processed which strips away minerals.  It usually contains added iodine which is an important essential nutrient that isn't found in sea salt.
NOTE: (An essential nutrient is something that our body cannot make). Kosher salt due to its texture maybe a choice for some cooks.

In my mission to eat healthier I rarely eat processed food.   Keep in mind that processed foods are high in salt.  Most people are eating way too much salt in their diet.  The average limit for sodium intake is 2,300 milligrams a day.   People over 51 years of age, or if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease should limit intake to 1,500 milligrams a day. To have less salt intake and a healthier diet try to avoid or limit your use of processed foods.  Try to make your meals and baked goods from scratch when possible.  Once again we go back to the importance of eating as many single ingredient foods as possible to include fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries.  The fewer ingredients usually means a healthier product with less additives such as salt and sugar.

Reference:
Bose, Debopriya, (2012).  Difference Between Sea Salt and Table Salt.  Retrieved from Buzzle.com
 Zeratsky, Katherine, (2012).  Is sea salt better for your health than table salt? Mayo Clinic.