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Too much sodium can negatively affect your health. While sea salt has usually been through less processing than table salt, the sodium levels in each type of salt, according to nutritionists such as Mayo Clinic's Katherine Zeratsky, L.D., R.D., is actually about the same. Considering the comparable amounts of sodium, there is an ongoing debate amongst nutritionists and medical experts regarding whether sea salt provides a health benefit over table salt.
Harvesting Salt
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Sea salt is derived from ocean water which has been captured in large trays and allowed to evaporate in the sun. After the water evaporates, salt crystals of varying shapes and sizes are left. Table salt is harvested from underground salt mines and, once collected, is refined. When refinement occurs, most of the extraneous minerals are removed from the salt and iodine is added.
Nutrional Differences
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Sea salt and table salt are each primarily made of sodium chloride and have similar amounts of sodium. Since sea salt has not been refined, it still contains trace amounts of the minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc, and iodine. These minerals contribute to the enhanced flavor of sea salt versus table salt. Table salt manufacturers such as Morton's began adding iodine to table salt in the 1920s in response to a high iodine deficiency rate.
Differences in Cooking
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Table salt has a very fine, uniform texture, whereas the grains of sea salt are larger and more coarse. As a result, table salt dissolves more quickly and would be the more appropriate choice for dishes that require a smooth consistency, such as desserts or baked dishes. Sea salt is a better choice for dishes that benefit from the crunchy texture that sea salt would provide.
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