As much talk as there is about sea salt, it’s important to separate between coarse sea salt and fine sea salt. The main distinctions between coarse sea salt and fine sea salt are the processing and texture. coarse sea salt is typically harvested from seas that contain very small amounts of dissolved organic materials such as sulfur dioxide. Fine sea salt is harvested from seas where there are larger amounts of dissolved organic materials including sulfur dioxide and it’s processed more thoroughly.
When harvesting fine sea salt from the sea, the fine grains are separated from the coarse grains. This is done by “shearing” the grains off of the sea salt rocks. Each individual granule has its own distinctive color and grain designs. The color of each granule ranges from the lightest to the darkest browns. Because sea salt has a unique color and grain designs, it is also often labeled with colors such as “salt blue”, “cherry red” etc. While coarse sea salt has its own unique color and designs, fine sea salt does not.
However, the similarities end there. Sea salt has been known to have high concentrations of trace minerals. The trace minerals found in sea salt work with our body’s natural systems to help maintain a healthy balance of electrolytes and other substances in our bodies. Just as eating foods rich in magnesium can help to maintain a healthy balance of our bodies; consuming sea salt on a regular basis can do the same.
Trace minerals found in sea salts are sodium and potassium. Potassium, like sodium, is an essential mineral that helps to regulate our fluid levels and fluid balance. High levels of sodium can cause excessive fluid retention, which increases our blood pressure and heart rate, and lowers the concentration of hemoglobin in our blood cells. Sea salts have a higher concentration of potassium than table salt, making it ideal for those who are on the go.
Other trace minerals found in sea salts include magnesium, sulfur, iron, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and selenium. All of these trace minerals play an important role in the body. They help to balance our fluid, electrolyte, and mineral balances, leading to optimal function.
Today, sea salts are available in three different forms: rock salt (precious and white), sea salt (also known as unrefined salt), and synthetic sea salt. Each type of sea salt has its own set of trace minerals that contribute to its varying properties and contributions to human health. Rock salt generally lacks magnesium, iron, and selenium. Unrefined sea salt has a higher concentration of iron and selenium. Synthetic sea salt contains up to 90% more minerals compared to the other two types of salts.
Salt is widely used in preparing food, especially meat and fish. It’s often combined with herbs, vegetables, spices, and fruits to make a variety of culinary dishes. Some restaurants serve sea salts at lunch as a side dish or in the morning as a breakfast supplement. Restaurants, cafes, and caterers regularly prepare sea salts for their customers. They use sea salts to enhance the taste of salads, raw vegetables, and fish dishes, or to impart a unique flavor to cold dishes like sea food.
Scientists have also identified several specific types of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi that may exist in seawater. Several of these might be harmful to human health. To prevent people from being infected with these microorganisms, sea salt is often added to some dishes or other dishes before they’re served. As a result, the dishes might cause a slight odor, but people can’t get sick from the smell because the presence of sea salts inhibits the growth of these microorganisms.