What are Truffle Salt and Why Should You Care?

Sea salt is formed through the spontaneous evaporation of seawater or saline lakes. Unlike refined table salt, which is often mined from the earth and chemically processed in order to remove excess minerals, sea salts actually undergoes no chemical treatment at all. It is harvested from the sea bed where natural seawater evaporates into the air and backs up into the earth. It is collected and transported to a variety of shops and stores around the world. The abundance of naturally occurring sea salt on the market makes it one of the most versatile and cost-effective natural ingredients for seasoning virtually any food you can think of.

Salt is important for our bodies, yet many of us never think about how it gets prepared and used in our kitchens. Just as we use table salt every day, there are two main types of sea salt available on the market today. These are seawater pearls and potassium chloride salts. There is also black table salt which has been processed with various types of chemicals in order to produce a more desirable product.

One of the most important uses of sea salt comes from its effect on our blood pressure. Because it contains an antispasmodic, which helps to prevent blood cells from being inhibited by chemicals in the blood, this salt can help lower your overall blood pressure. On a related note, the process of evaporation increases the amount of sodium in your blood, which in turn raises your blood pressure. Evaporating sea salt actually raises your blood pressure to a point that normal table salt would never reach.

In addition to its beneficial effect on blood pressure, sea salts has a wide range of other uses. Many doctors believe that pink salt is better for you than regular table salt because of the extra minerals it contains. Among these minerals are potassium and magnesium, which play a vital role in regulating water levels in the body as well as muscle tissue.

Sea salt also contains trace minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus. Each mineral is important for different processes throughout the body. Potassium is one of the most important electrolytes and plays an essential role in muscle contractions and water reclamation. Magnesium is needed for strong bones and nerves while iron aids in making red blood cells function properly. Phosphorus is used in red blood cells and assists with fluid movement and in building cellular walls.

Although these minerals make up only a small percentage of the content of sea salt, it is still important to consume a healthy amount of these minerals each day. Salt is beneficial for your health in a number of ways including helping to control high blood pressure. It should be noted however, that regular consumption of sea salt will not help to cure hypertension but to help keep it under control.

Unlike man-made manufactured products, pure sea salt does not undergo processing to make it suitable for human consumption. The benefits of this natural deposit are therefore directly related to its direct source from natural deposits in the ocean. Because of its purity, natural deposits often have very high levels of sodium in them. This is why sea salt is often called truffle salt.

In addition to sodium, truffle salt also contains a variety of other naturally occurring minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, manganese, copper, and selenium. When salt dissolves in water, some of these substances are separated out by molecules called "aerogels" and can add important vitamins and nutrients to the salt solution. Unfortunately, sometimes salt also contains "anti-caking agents", sometimes referred to as micronized additives. These substances interfere with the absorption of other nutrients and can reduce the effectiveness of sea salt in helping to maintain healthy blood-sugar levels and cardiovascular health. Micronized additives are commonly removed from sea salt before being used.