The Controversy Around Table Salt: Here’s What You Need to Know

You’ve probably heard a lot recently about salt and how it is a bit of a controversial food ingredient. Right now, not only is lots of information about how much sodium makes for a healthy amount, but there are lots of different salts to choose from. There is kosher salt, iodized salt (table salt), pink Himalayan salt, and sea salt.  With so many options and information coming out about salt is no surprise that salt is in a bit of a controversial position. Let’s go over what makes table salt controversial.

Is Salt Healthy?

Table salt, also known as iodized salt, is something your body needs. Salt helps your body to stay hydrated as its responsible for water retention and balancing electrolytes. The mineral also helps to prevent muscle cramping, support the nervous system, and improve your body’s ability to sleep.

The problem with salt is that it is a balancing act. Eating too much or too little salt can cause equally unwanted health issues. Low sodium intake can cause heart disease, insulin resistance, and heart failure. On the other hand, high levels of sodium intake can lead to the development of certain cancers.

One of the major benefits of table salt is that it is fortified with iodine, a compound that your body absolutely needs but doesn’t produce on its own. It used to be a necessity to provide iodine to the population at large, but now you can get iodine in multiple different foods, including yogurt.

Different Types of Salt

There are two types of salt that are most popular, table salt and sea salt. There is really no reason to pick one over the other besides taste. Table salt tends to be a bit more processed and have its flavor spread out a bit more evenly. Sea salt tends to have more excess minerals and have its flavor crystals clumped more together for bigger bursts of flavors.