Iodized Salt vs Plain Salt

Sodium chloride, more commonly known as, salt, is an essential ingredient in almost every culinary preparation, excluding some desserts, and is regarded with utmost gravity as a source of essential dietary sodium. Also, due to sodium chloride's fluid retentive properties, salt is perceived with caution by health care experts and persons suffering from hypertension. The mineral, salt, is essential for all animal life forms in very small quantities but does more harm than good if taken in excess. Salt is also one among the basic tastes, thereby giving this mineral its ubiquitous position in kitchens all over the world! Salt is also useful for purpose of food preservation. In ancient Egypt, professional embalmers rubbed various salts on and inside dead bodies to remove moisture and prepare them for mummification! Now, with all this brouhaha over comparison between iodized and plain salt, the layman is left hovering over which side to support in the battle between these two common varieties of edible salt! Let's lend an ear to both sides and reach a verdict accordingly!

Difference Between Iodized Salt and Plain Salt

Do the so-called benefits of iodized salt threaten to overshadow the good old plain salt or are these claims baseless? Is iodized sea salt a better option than iodized table salt? How? Scroll down to find out the answers!

Points of Comparison	Iodized Salt	Plain Salt
Composition	Potassium iodate/Potassium iodide/Sodium iodate/Sodium iodide (depending upon producer), Sodium chloride	Sodium chloride
Health Benefits	Reduces deficiency induced conditions such as endemic goiter, besides replenishing body electrolytes and treatment of dysautonomia	Replenishing body electrolytes and treatment of dysautonomia
Excess Consumption Effects	Stroke, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, ventricular hypertrophy, edema, duodenal and gastric ulcers, osteoporosis, pyrosis, stomach cancer	Stroke, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, ventricular hypertrophy, edema, duodenal and gastric ulcers, osteoporosis, pyrosis, stomach cancer
Deficit Consumption Effects	Muscle cramps, dizziness, electrolyte imbalance	Muscle cramps, dizziness, electrolyte imbalance

Consumption of any salt, whether plain or iodized, in very large quantities, say, as much as 1 gram per kilogram of body weight, in a very short time duration can cause death! Conversely, very less salt intake coupled with drinking large quantities of water can lead to hyponatremia or water intoxication or water poisoning which causes serious brain function disturbances! The only difference between iodized salt and plain salt is the presence and absence of iodine in each variant, respectively. Salt is a wonderful vehicle of providing iodine to the masses as almost everyone consumes at least some amount of salt in his/her daily life. This is a great way to root out mass iron deficiency and resultant thyroid disorders which include goiter, hypothyroidism, etc. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is one of the chief causes of still births, miscarriages, abortions and various congenital development disorders. Iodized salt is also claimed to prevent constipation incidences and certain skin disorders. The only difference between the plain and iodized versions of salt is the presence or absence of iodine. All other properties of both salt are similar to each other. Indeed, save for iodine, the basic composition of both variants is sodium chloride, hence, the similarities! In case of iodized salt, the iodine content is added to the edible salt by spraying it with a solution of potassium iodate (or any other iodine source, differing prom manufacturer to manufacturer). Iodized sea salt, as a substitute for iodized table salt, is considered by many to contain more minerals such as iron sulfur and magnesium, though in very trace quantities. Also, iodized sea salt and iodized table salt differ somewhat in their taste, texture and processing, though their basic composition remains more or less the same.

Considering both sides of the debate over iodized salt vs plain salt, the verdict may be given in favor of the former. If you consume more or less of either variant, you are going to suffer the same health consequences but when an optimum amount is consumed, you are likely to derive more benefits and fortify your body with the essential iodine it needs for normal brain and glandular function if you opt for iodized salt. Any which ways, if you excess or run a deficit on salt consumption, you run health risks - might as well reap the maximum health benefits when consuming an optimum amount!