Sea salt is sea salt, which is produced by the natural evaporation of sea water. It is employed as a seasoning in cooking, baking, cosmetics, and even for preserving food. It's also known as black sea salt or solar sea salt. Salt generally was processed only once or twice a year because of its high concentration of minerals and other nutrients, making it low cost.
Evaporation is a natural process of the Earth's crust in which minerals are pulled from the soil and deposited in different places. A great deal of mineral content comes from these deposits as a result of wind, rain, and snow. When people began drying and grinding sea salt for use as a kosher salt or seasoning, it became possible to lower its concentration of minerals and other elements. Salt lamps, electric salt lamps, pressure canners, and other drying equipment enable evaporation to take place at lower temperatures and pressures.
The different types of sea salt available are not merely divided based on their mineral content. They are also classified according to their manufacturing method. Natural sea salt consists of different types of minerals, as mentioned earlier including calcium, iron, manganese, sodium chloride, potassium, bromine, magnesium, sulfur, and zinc. Industrial grade table salt on the other hand usually contains many of these same minerals, as well as sodium chloride, aluminum, tin, phosphorous, and iron. Industrial salts are generally preferred for high-end applications because they have higher melting points and therefore are more resistant to burning and softening.
In addition to table salt content, there are other important factors to be considered. These include the amounts of sodium chloride, magnesium, and carbonate or potash content present in the product. All these elements should be present in the same proportions in order to produce an effective remedy. The amount of each ingredient is determined by a scientific procedure that involves more than a few scientific calculations based on the chemical composition of the seawater in the area where the salt will be produced. There are basically two different methods used in the calculation of these quantities. The first method is through experimental procedures, while the second method involves using actual samples of sea salt extracted from the area in question.
It should be pointed out that many people believe that sodium chloride is a natural source of iodine and that it is advisable to increase the levels of this mineral in the body as it is an effective dietary source. This is partly true and partly false because in recent years many people believe that increasing the levels of iodine in the body through consumption of table salt is beneficial. Although this may help increase the efficiency of excretion of waste products, the levels of iodine and its resultant efficiency decrease as we age.
Studies conducted in Russia have shown that increasing the consumption of iodine-rich foods such as sea salt rather than refined table salt can reduce the incidence of iodine deficiency in the population. Iodine deficiency has also been associated with the consumption of highly refined fish foods that are often rich in mercury. These studies have led to the conclusion that iodine deficiency is not associated with fish consumption or highly refined foods in general.
It should also be pointed out that while iodine deficiency has not been associated with an increased incidence of prostate cancer in these studies, the risks of prostate cancer may increase after men consume large amounts of iodine-rich foods. Studies of animals have also suggested that high levels of added iodine can result in the development of cancerous tumors. However, experts are not in agreement about the effect of high levels of added iodine on cancer.
The biggest problem with iodized table salt is that it tends to make people expect too much from foods that they eat. We are not trained to recognize the lack of iodine in our diet and therefore, we tend to over-indulge. This leads to people consuming diets that have too much sodium chloride, which in turn causes weight gain and other health complications. Studies have shown that an iodine deficiency can also lead to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. Thus, while table salt does not cause cancer, it could certainly cause other life-threatening diseases like high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
