It can be difficult for people to distinguish between sea salts and table salt. They are actually not much different mechanically at all. These consist of sea salt, Himalayan sea salt, kosher sea salt and Celtic sea salt among others. It is often the use of iodine or sodium that distinguish them chemically. Iodine-rich sea salt tends to be darker as sea salt that contains more sodium tend to be lighter in colour.
Sea salt is used mainly in salty and processed foods. Sea salt has been found to inhibit bacterial growth and preserve freshness longer than other salts. It also adds more flavours to food, thus enhancing the taste of foods cooked on them. Sea salt was used by ancient civilizations to season foods including beans, meat, and cheese. In some areas it is still used today as an ingredient in cooking. One reason why it is used so commonly may be because of its accessibility and affordability.
The health benefits of sea salt are numerous. It is said to aid in digestion due to its magnesium content. The minerals help to increase the rate of human blood circulation and improve the circulation of oxygen to the cells. It is said to also lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Studies also indicate that eating products high in iodine (such as sea salt) may reduce the risk of certain types of cancers, particularly breast cancer.
Researchers have even studied the ability of sea salts in curing various ailments. For example, they have been testing the effects of varying amounts on lab rats. Over the course of thousands of trials, it was found that regular refined salt prevented various diseases, but sea salt prevented certain types of cancer. Conclusive studies were conducted on lab rats, which means that humans can use this test to determine if trace amounts of sea salt reduced or prevented disease.
One major benefit of sea salt is that it helps slow down the rate at which heat energy is lost in the body. Since most heat energy comes from the food we eat, eating foods high in heat will raise our bodies' temperature. High heat energy will also make us grow more calories than what we should, thereby leading to overeating and obesity. By eating foods rich in trace amounts of sea salt, we can prevent the body from absorbing too much heat energy from food.
There are other health benefits of sea salt. During menstruation, it is said to help ease cramps, and during menopause, it is said to reduce hot flashes. Some women experience bloating when they are nursing. Remedies such as taking sea salt before nursing can eliminate or at least greatly reduce this symptom. Another remedy for bloating is taking sodium bicarbonate, which is found in sea salt. Sodium bicarbonate helps neutralize bloating hormones, thus eases the pain connected with bloating.
Sea salt contains a number of minerals that are beneficial to our bodies. Most importantly, however, it contains a wide range of trace minerals that are important for our health. Among these trace minerals are sodium chloride (often called "salt") and magnesium chloride (sometimes called "potassium"). These trace minerals enhance the functionality of the other minerals in our body; thus when we eat food rich in magnesium and sodium chloride, we are able to absorb more nutrients and grow to be healthier and live longer.
In some parts of the world, including the State of California, there are regulations regarding the amount of evaporating seawater that may be used for drinking water. In these areas, the rules may be more stringent than those in other places, but the benefits of using sea salt instead of regular salt will still outweigh the small differences in regulations. Regular salt cannot maintain the trace minerals and other minerals necessary to be healthy. By choosing to add a natural sea salt product to your diet, you will be providing your body with all the trace minerals it needs.
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