Sea Salt Benefits

What is Sea Salt?

Sea salt refers to the unrefined salt that is obtained by evaporating sea water collected in man-made pools near a protected shoreline. The major difference between table salt and sea salt is in their mineral composition. Table salt, that is refined by industrial processes, is stripped of most of the minerals that are present in it when it is extracted from natural sources. Due to this reason, table salt is 99.9% sodium chloride as compared to sea salt, which contains only 98% of the compound. The remaining 2% is made of around 80 important minerals like iron, sulfur, and magnesium. It is due to this reason that sea salt tastes a little different from table salt and also has a higher number of benefits as compared to its more refined counterpart.

Sea Salt Benefits

• Sea salt benefits the circulatory system by regulating irregular heartbeats and high blood pressure. If taken in moderate amounts, sea salt has been found to be effective in reducing the incidence of heart diseases and heart attacks.
• One of the various health benefits of sea salt is clearing of sinus cavities. Sea salt is a strong natural antihistamine. After drinking a glass or two of water put a little bit of sea salt on the tongue. This provides relief from asthma. It is also useful in clearing lungs of mucus plugs and phlegm.
• Sea salt helps in extracting acidity from the cells of the body, specially from those in the brain. It also helps the kidneys to remove excess acidity from the body and excrete it through urine.
• Sea salt helps in maintaining proper balance of electrolytes in the body. This strengthens the immune system and increases energy levels in the body. This is specially helpful for athletes.
• Sea salt improves transmission of information between nerve cells. It is important for proper functioning of the nerves and helps them in processing information received by brain.
• As it is a powerful antihistamine, unrefined sea salt prevents muscle cramps. It also helps in improving muscle tone and strength.
• One of the many advantages of sea salt is that it regulates blood sugar level in the body. Hence it is specially useful for diabetics.
• Sea salt helps in regulating sleep. It is a natural hypnotic that acts as a soporific. Drinking a pinch of salt added to warm water before going off to sleep can induce deep sleep.
• Sea salt health benefits include better absorption of food in the body by the intestinal tracts.
• The minerals in sea salt are known to be good for skin. Sea salt baths are a popular treatment to cure infections like psoriasis. Dead sea salt has been found to be specially useful for this infection. Of the many advantages of Dead Sea bath salt is that it cures the symptoms of tendonitis and osteoarthritis.
• Sea salt is also used in the cosmetic industry, mainly a natural exfoliant or scrub. Its high mineral content also finds it a place in the manufacture of skin care products and foundations. Sea salt crystals may also be used to make antiperspirants and deodorants.
• The various minerals present in sea salt gives it a certain flavor that is valued by many chefs. Sea salt is often used in French and Thai cuisine. Chefs use sea salt as a crust for baked potatoes.

It is true that sea salt benefits are numerous. This often leads people to sprinkle sea salt generously in their food causing excess sodium load on the body. This may harm the body instead of benefiting it. In case sea salt is included in the diet, it should not substitute more than half the table salt intake. In all, the total sodium consumption should be kept below 2,400 milligrams per day.