5 Different Types of Salt & Their Health Benefits

Salt is a key ingredient in any dish. It can make or break your dish. Salt is a mineral made from sodium and chlorine. Together they form sodium chloride, a crystalized substance used in cooking. It maintains cellular balance, blood circulation and blood sugar levels. Sodium is responsible for maintaining electrolytes. Without adequate amounts of it, your brain would not be able to send necessary electrical impulses to the rest of your body for proper functioning. However, having salt in excess is detrimental for health, as it can increase the blood pressure and water retention in your body.

Below are five different types of salt with their health benefits:

• Kosher Salt.

Kosher salt is flaky, less refined with longer grains. The reason why many people prefer this is because it doesn’t have any iodine content in it. It is quite versatile and hence people love using it in their food. The crystal size makes it also ideal for curing meat.

• Sea Salt.

Sea salt has high magnesium content, and hence best to add to a bath for those with skin issues. It is mostly composed of sodium chloride, a compound that helps in regulating the fluid balance and blood pressure in the body. Since sea salt is minimally processed, it contains some minerals like calcium, potassium, and iron in trace amounts. If you consume sea salt with lukewarm water, it benefits the digestion. However, consuming too much salt can lead to water retention in the body.

• Pink Salt.

Unlike table salt, pink salt is naturally rich in iodine. The pink colour is due to the presence of iron oxide in it. Having pink salt every day can ensure proper flow of liquids in the body. A good balance of minerals and hormones can help in improving your insulin sensitivity. It also aids in digestion, and skin- if you soak your body in a Himalayan brine bath, it can deal with acne, scarring, while also soothing the muscle cramps.

• Iodised Salt.

Iodine is essential for healthy brain development in the fetus and in infants. Iodine deficiency can negatively affect the health of women, causes neurological and gastrointestinal disorders, and slows down the metabolism. If you have iodised salt in limits, you can avoid goitre and hypothyroidism. But WHO(World Health Organisation), recommends having less than 5 grams of salt per day for adults. Therefore, iodised salt is best avoided because you will exceed the limit of salt well before you meet your daily requirements of iodine.

• Black Salt.

Black salt has alkaline properties which aid in reducing excess acid in the stomach, while its high mineral content reduces the damage caused by acid reflux. It aids digestion and also alleviates intestinal gas. Having black salt can also be a great remedy for constipation, split-ends in the hair, and water retention in the body. It contains sufficient amounts of potassium which is crucial in regulating muscle functioning.

Over to you.
Having enough salt is essential for proper bodily functions. But you must take care of not having any excessive amount of it. If you are to choose from among the various options in salt, pink Himalayan salt, and black salt are the best alternatives for your health.