Is Sea Salt Healthier For High Blood Pressure?

Sea Salt Vs Table Salt

Despite what recent research may suggest physicians and nutritionists know too much table salt is not good for you. It can cause fluid retention and can be very hard on the kidneys.

In a survey conducted by the American Heart Association, 61 percent of respondents incorrectly agreed that sea salt is a lower sodium alternative to table salt. Table salt and most sea salts contain about 40 percent sodium by weight.

Kosher salt and some sea salts may have larger crystal sizes than table salt, so they may have less sodium by volume (e.g., by teaspoon or tablespoon). A teaspoon of table salt has about 2,300 mg of sodium, but a teaspoon of sea salt or kosher salt may have less sodium because fewer crystals fit into the spoon.

Some varieties of sea salt may claim to have less sodium than table salt. You can check the Nutrition Facts label to compare how a given sea salt compares to table salt, which has about 575 mg sodium per ¼ teaspoon.

“It’s very important for people to be aware that sea salt often has as much sodium as table salt,” said Rachel K. Johnson, Ph.D., R.D., an American Heart Association spokeswoman and the Bickford Professor of Nutrition at the University of Vermont.

Heart Health and Sodium Intake

“One of the keys to maintaining a heart-healthy diet is to control your sodium intake,” she said. “If you’re consuming more sea salt than you otherwise would because you think it has less sodium, then you may be placing yourself at higher risk of developing high blood pressure, which raises your risk of heart disease.”

So there is your answer. Even though sea salt is presented as being the more healthier alternative to table salt. By weight, they are the same. The key, if you want to use either salt, is moderation. Also, be careful of salt substitutes that contain too much potassium which can also lead to various health problems.