Iodized Salt

We know that salt is one of the indispensable seasonings used by humans since time immemorial. It is a common fact that saltness is approved as one of the basic tastes. Apart from enhancing the taste of food, salt is also an essential mineral for the human body. This mineral is mainly composed of sodium chloride (NaCl) and some trace elements. In its natural form, salt is either produced from sea water (through evaporation) or mined from salt mines and rock salt deposits. This natural salt is available in its natural form as well as in refined versions. Nowadays, various types of salt are available in the market. Iiodized salt is widely used for culinary purposes.

More About Salt

As mentioned above, there are various types of salt that come in various grain sizes and colors. They include sea salt, rock salt, Kosher salt, Celtic salt, table salt and iodized salt. Some of them may have slightly different tastes, as compared to the traditional type. While sea salt is exclusively made from sea water, other types may or may not be derived from the former. Sea salt is also available in refined as well as non refined versions. The refined version has a white color, but, unrefined or pure sea salt may have a slight pinkish or grayish hue. This pure form of sea salt is less saltier (especially those with coarse grains) and is said to have a slight change in flavor. This can be due to the presence of various trace minerals, like, iron, magnesium, sulfur or iodine. It is said that only 98% of sea salt is sodium chloride and the remaining 2% consists of trace minerals.

History of Iodized Salt

Now, you know that iodine content in unrefined sea salt is very low. In case of refined versions too, most of the trace minerals, including iodine gets removed. This is the same for almost all types of salt. But, the problems caused by iodine deficiency were recognized during the time of the First World War and by the 1920s, production of iodized salt emerged as a big movement and now, it is one of the most widely used salt, across the globe. It is said that the iodine requirement of humans cannot be met with by the regular sources of this mineral, like, seafood, vegetables, etc. Deficiency of iodine can lead to various health problems, like goiter, thyroid problems, etc. So, iodized salt was introduced to overcome these problems.

What is Iodized Salt

As the name rightly suggests, iodized salt is nothing other than salt that is fortified with iodine. It can be iodized sea salt or salt from other sources supplemented with iodine. For this purpose, any of the iodine-containing salts, like, potassium iodide, sodium iodide, or sodium iodate, to regular salt. Studies show that one teaspoon of iodized salt can provide around 400 micrograms of iodine and the daily iodine requirement of a human being is 150 micrograms. So, use of this salt takes care of the iodine requirement of a person and prevents diseases related to deficiency of this mineral. Now, most of the table salt brands come in iodized form, but, you may find other types without iodine. Both types come with labels stating the presence or absence of iodine. However, iodized salt that is kept open, loses its iodine content, through exposure to air, stripping you of its benefits. If you compare the various aspects of iodized salt vs sea salt, the main difference is the presence of iodine in the former.

The basic and most important iodized salt benefit is its iodine content that is said to be beneficial in preventing several diseases and disorders. However, it is not advisable to use iodized salt in large amounts, that cause iodine toxicity symptoms. There are also speculations about iodized salt allergy. So, use this salt in moderate amounts, as high amounts of sodium (in salt) may also lead to hypertension and heart diseases.