Salt, Its Mineral Content and Its Texture

Sea salt is sea water’s evaporation process. It has no chemical content, making it safer than table salt. It is frequently used as an additive to foods, cooking, makeup and for preserving foods. It’s also known as kosher salt, sun-flavored sea salt or marine salt. Salt from seawater is often harvested from rocks in bodies of water worldwide.

As you might guess, sea salt comes in two different forms: grain sea salt and rock salt. Rock salt is the saltiest form available; it consists of crushed sea salt extracted from rocks in coastal areas around the world. Grain sea salt is less processed and is made from natural sea salt harvested from mountain springs. Unlike sea salt, which is harvested from the sea, grain sea salt is mined more expensively. However, it is much healthier than its sea salt counterpart.

There are several factors that affect the mineral content and grain size of sea salt. The most important one is the abundance of dissolved minerals in the seawater, which is dictated by the surrounding ocean currents. Other factors affecting the size of grains include the presence of oxygen and pH level. Oceanic currents also influence the amount of dissolved organic substances (Osmocosms), another major constituent of salt.

The grain in table salt may not be completely devoid of naturally occurring minerals. For example, there are trace minerals such as potassium and magnesium present in sea salt, which cannot be derived from table salt alone. The trace minerals found in sea salt are generally balanced with the abundance of sodium chloride. This is why table salt has a salty taste and is salty in general. Sea salt has more natural sea salt minerals in comparison to table salt.

Salt is a basic chemical that has a multitude of roles in our lives. It is an essential component in food preparation, cooking and even medicinal treatment. In fact, salt is so essential to our life that it is a highly recommended daily dose. One tablespoon of salt is the amount required on average to take in one day. However, as we have mentioned above, this varies depending upon the body type and the amount of sodium chloride present in the diet. Most people should be consuming about two grams of salt per day for their optimal health.

The typical sea salt contains a higher percentage of sodium than table salt or regular table salt. The concentration of sodium in sea salt is affected by various factors including the geographical location of the sea where it was harvested, the harvesting methods used and other environmental conditions. It should be noted that sodium is not necessarily a bad thing. In moderation, sodium can help to regulate blood pressure and maintain fluid balance in the body.

Some of the other factors that influence the concentration of sodium in sea salt include the harvesting methods employed for the product. High demand in certain regions in certain times of the year may lead to de-mineralization, resulting in a lower concentration of sodium in the product. A prime example of this is the harvesting of sea salt from the Andes Mountains. Because the salt is harvested at a cooler temperature, it is de-mineralized when it is harvested and transported around the world. When table salt is refined in the refinery, it reaches a maximum level of sodium chloride.

In addition to differences in the concentration and mineral composition of sea salt and table salt, the way they are processed also play a role in their texture. Although cooking harvested sea salt may take more energy to cook, refined sea salt is processed using a lower number of energy processes, resulting in a softer feel. Refined sea salt has a finer texture. The fine texture is most noticeable during the cold pressing process of making coarse sea salt and when cooking.