Sea Salt: Health Benefits
Sea salt is an unfiltered salt made directly by evaporating seawater. Since the prehistoric times, the salt is largely used in cuisines and for medicinal purposes. As the sea salt undergoes very less filtration process, the number of minerals in it like sodium, iodine, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron and manganese are retained compared to table salt. Also, the active compounds present in sea salt is directly absorbed by our body when taken. [1]
Sodium is vital for our body for maintaining the cellular homeostasis and regulating fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. It also helps in the contraction and relaxation of muscles, and in excitability of nerve cells. Sea salt naturally contains 40% sodium which makes it valuable for our body. Some of the common health benefits of sea salt are as follows:
1. Maintains electrolyte balance
The minerals of sea salt like magnesium, sodium and calcium help in maintaining the electrolytic equilibrium in the body which further helps to improve the blood circulation, muscle strength and overall body functions. [2]
2. Normalizes heartbeat
Sodium, potassium and chloride in sea salt help in the nerve excitability and muscle contraction. This helps to improve cardiovascular health and normalize the heartbeat. [3]
3. Helps in digestion
Sea salt helps in protein digestion, regulates the digestive enzymes, pancreatic secretions and increases the count of good gut bacteria. All these features of sea salt help in aiding digestive problems and promote weight loss. [4]
4. Manages blood pressure
Sodium in sea salt helps to regulate the blood pressure in the body as it is one of the major electrolytes. A study says that sea salt helps reduce both diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure which are good for the management of hypertension. [5]
5. Manages osteoporosis
Sea salt is very helpful in the management of inflammatory diseases like psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. A study says that sea salt has a therapeutic effect which helps to treat knee osteoporosis in people. [6]
6. Boosts immune system
Sea salt has an alkalizing property which prevents the growth of harmful microorganisms in the body. Also, the minerals present in the salt help boost the immune system. [7]
Risks Associated With Overconsumption Of Sea Salt
Sea salt is good for our health, but only in the recommended amount. According to the U.S. Dietary Reference, the recommended amount of sea salt is up to 2300 mg/day and 1500 mg/day for people below 14 years of age, pregnant, older and with chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes. However, it is advised to reduce the intake to 1500 mg/day. [8]
When the level of sodium increases in the body due to overconsumption of sea salt, the risks of diseases also increases. Usually, the sodium in our body is not increased by having home-cooked foods but by processed foods available in the market like pizza, chips, popcorns and soups. The risks associated with too much salt consumption are the following:
Stroke
Bloating and increased water retention
Heart attack
Stomach cancer
Osteoporosis