Is sea salt better for me than regular salt?

The main difference is in taste, texture and processing.  The amount of sodium is the same but texture and taste and processing is a bit different.  I personally like the texture and taste of sea salt better and therefore prefer it but simply because of the taste and texture.

Below is the explanation given by Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky

• "Sea salt is produced through evaporation of seawater, usually with little processing, which leaves behind some trace minerals and elements depending on its water source. These insignificant amounts of minerals add flavor and color to sea salt, which also comes in a variety of coarseness levels."
• "Table salt is mined from underground salt deposits. Table salt is more heavily processed to eliminate trace minerals and usually contains an additive to prevent clumping. Most table salt also has added iodine, an essential nutrient that appears naturally in minute amounts in sea salt."

 

Sea salt provides sodium as well as regular salt. If you have high blood pressure or congestive heart failure, both should be limited when added to food. Avoid high sodium often found as a preservative and flavor enhancer in processed and packaged foods.

No, they both have the same basic nutritional components thus the same effects on your health. Sea salt comes from the evaporation of sea water so there is a VERY slight trace amount of minerals left over in the salt when it’s processed, which gives sea salt a different taste. Regular (table) salt comes from underground mines. Because they have no difference in health effects,  choose the one you prefer but limit your total sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams a day — or 1,500 milligrams if you're age 51 or older, have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

Your taste buds may have a preference, but sea salt doesn’t have any real health advantages. Many gourmet chefs favor it over table salt for its coarse, crunchy texture and stronger flavor. Manufacturers are using it in potato chips and other snacks because it’s “all natural,” and not processed like table salt. And some health-conscious consumers choose it because it contains minerals like magnesium.

Although both sea salt and table salt contain about 40 percent sodium, many consumers haven’t gotten that message. Sea salt is obtained directly through the evaporation of seawater. It undergoes minimal processing, so it retains trace levels of minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium and other nutrients.

Table salt, on the other hand, is mined from salt deposits and then processed to give it a fine texture so it’s easier to mix and use in recipes. Processing strips table salt of any minerals it may have contained, and additives are also usually incorporated to prevent clumping or caking. Whichever you choose, the American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium intake to no more than 1,500 milligrams a day.