Sea Salt Or Not. Is There A Difference?

I keep seeing commercials for Planters Nuts where they are advertising that they are using only pure sea salt in their nuts. Some may be watching this same commercial and cocking their head in curiosity.  The first question people have is “What’s the difference?“. Next question is “Is sea salt better for you than regular salt?“. Both are very valid questions with simple answers.

Sea Salt Image: Target.com

What’s the main difference between sea salt and regular table salt? Mainly the texture and the taste. table salt is processed from salt mines. Sea Salt is process from sea water through by evaporating it and harvesting the residue. After both are processed you have the same product, which is sodium chloride.

So we can understand why the texture is different, but why the taste? Sea salt is more pure and contains minerals where as table salt can sometimes contain additives to prevent it from clumping up from moisture. They also add iodine to salt because years ago it was discovered that goiters could be prevented by providing the body with an iodine supplement. What better way to get a supplement in to the body but by adding it to something that is added to almost every food. I’ve said it before that I like the flavor of sea salt much better. It’s not a huge taste difference but it’s just enough to make me choose sea salt.

Now for the second question. Is sea salt better for you? Not really. In the end it’s still sodium chloride, the same as table salt and any nutritional significance that it may hold from the minerals or absence of additives doesn’t make much of a difference. Remember, not too much.

Image: Target.com