Although many people are unfamiliar with the term, what exactly is unrefined salt? Simply put, unrefined salt contains no chemical additives or processed materials; it is 100% natural. As a result, it is highly beneficial to your health, as it is a significant source of trace minerals like sodium, magnesium, iodine, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, bromine, selenium, and chloride. It also contains an abundant supply of healthy electrolytes which promote proper brain function, concentration, and even weight loss.

One of the reasons why the British medical journal, The BMJ, has called unrefined salt “essential” is because it plays such a vital role in our everyday lives. As such, it should be consumed in large quantities. In the UK, there is a limit on the amount of salt that you can consume a day, based on your gender, blood pressure, and age. And for those who still manage to overindulge, there are now plans to introduce a regulated amount of dietary sodium as part of a campaign to reduce salt in the population.

According to the experts, excessive consumption of salty foods increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes. However, there is a downside to this health scare: excessive consumption of sodium is not only bad for your health, but it is also expensive. As compared to salty foods, unrefined salt can be more costly as it requires more processing and preparation procedures. Unfortunately, we tend to buy products that contain high levels of sodium, as they cost more. It is no surprise then that health-conscious individuals turn to alternatives, which can often be sourced at cheaper prices, and sometimes even free of charge.

The problem lies in the fact that refined or processed salt lacks nutritional value and therefore does not contribute to overall wellbeing. Instead of benefiting from unrefined table salt, people tend to turn to sodium-free preparations, which lack the additional calories, sodium and other chemicals that contribute to unhealthy living. However, this is only one side of the coin. Another truth is that processed salt often uses additives to remove various components that are found naturally in the salt content. Unrefined and natural salts can be just as healthy.

This may come as a surprise, but the biggest enemy of unrefined salt and other salts is moisture, which can destroy many of the important nutrients in salt (i.e. iodine and magnesium). Furthermore, refined salt generally contains additives to extend its shelf life and thus increase its shelf life as well. This includes sodium as well as many other chemicals.

Many people are now eating organic foods and drinking water instead of using salt. However, there are still many alternatives if you prefer the salt alternative that doesn’t need to contain additives. Unrefined salts that retain their salt content (without the additives) retain more nutrients that are vital for human health.

These benefits come as no surprise since our bodies are made to absorb natural nutrients that come from nature. Unrefined salts do have certain advantages over refined table salt. First, they do retain more of the healthy mineral ions like potassium and magnesium – important to the human body. Also, the minerals do not Leach out into the liquids, as occurs with refined salt. And since they are naturally occurring and natural, unrefined salts are actually better for your health than regular table salt.

As with anything else, when it comes to a healthy food – diet, you will always want to choose those that are natural and consumed in large quantities. In today’s world, it is not always possible to eat only raw and organic fruits and vegetables. For those who are trying to watch their blood pressure and try to lose weight, the benefits of a low sodium diet might help. For those who are already on a low sodium diet, it is possible to gradually increase the amount of foods rich in potassium and magnesium.