When it comes to organic salt, things are a bit complicated. This article will explore the difference between natural salt and regular salt and discuss why choosing the right kind of salt can benefit your health.
Organic Salt: Does It Exist?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): “Salt is a mineral, not a product of agriculture, and therefore cannot be certified organic. Something could be labeled an organic salt but that would mean that there were other ingredients in the product that were certified organic, but not the salt itself.”
In other words, there’s no such thing as organic salt or organic sea salt – at least by the USDA Organic program’s standards. However, salt definitely varies in quality and some salts are much healthier than others.
Exploring Healthy Salt Options
If you’re in the market for healthy salt, you’ll want to look for products that come from natural sources and don’t contain additives. Importantly, this means avoiding regular table salt, which is often highly processed and may contain anti-caking agents or other additives.
There are several different kinds of healthy salt. Here's what you should know about each:
- Himalayan rock salt is a natural salt that has been unrefined and contains many of the same minerals as Himalayan crystal. It is a great source of magnesium, potassium, and calcium, which are essential minerals that are beneficial for your health. However, one study found that this type of salt sometimes contains heavy metals, including lead and aluminum, so it’s probably not the healthiest type of salt available.
- Sea salt comes from evaporated seawater and is also rich in minerals. However, research shows that this kind of salt can contain plastic particles due to the increased levels of pollutants entering our oceans.
- Volcanic salt is an unrefined form of salt made from volcanic rock salt. Some varieties contain activated charcoal (which is good for detoxification), while others include Hawaiian clay. Both types are high in minerals but may contain heavy metals.
- Bamboo salt is a sea salt invented by Buddhist monks over a thousand years ago and has been used as a health remedy ever since. Known as the healthiest, highest-quality salt on earth, bamboo salt contains a number of minerals, such as calcium, sulfur, and potassium; however, unlike other healthy salts, it does not contain toxins. That's because Bamboo Salt undergoes a unique firing process that removes all heavy metals and microplastics. Bamboo salt can help with a variety of health issues, such as toothaches, constipation, and dehydration. In addition, it can reduce inflammation, boost immunity, and alkalize food and the body. Research even shows that bamboo salt may have cancer-fighting properties.