sea salt is rich in minerals

Sea salt is a potentially rich source of minerals.

Sea salt and table salt have the same basic nutritional value, according to MayoClinic.com. Table salt comes from salt mines and goes through extensive processing that strips it of many minerals. In contrast, sea salt comes from evaporated sea water. As a result, the two types of salt differ in their components, taste and texture. The specific elements of sea salt vary slightly depending on the geographic area of origin, but its mineral profile is a strong marketing point. According to Western Analysis, Inc., sea salt can boast of as many as 75 minerals and trace elements.

Major Essential Macro-Minerals

Sodium and chloride are the most abundant ions in sea salt, representing about 33 and 50.9 percent of total minerals, respectively. They are both essential substances your body needs for normal function and nutrient absorption. Chloride specifically helps with muscle and nerve function. Sodium also acts in muscle function and helps regulate your blood volume and pressure. Potassium is another important macro-mineral that works with chloride to help regulate acid levels in your body. A quarter-teaspoon of Celtic sea salt contains 601.25 milligrams of chloride, 460 milligrams of sodium and 2.7 milligrams of potassium, according to CureZone.com.

Minor Essential Macro-Minerals

Calcium and magnesium play essential roles in several chemical reactions in your body. Magnesium, for example, intervenes in energy production and the synthesis of RNA and DNA. Calcium helps give structure to your bones and teeth, in addition to regulating your heartbeat and normal muscle and nerve function. Both are present in sea salt at the approximate concentrations of 1.5 milligrams and 5.2 milligrams per 1/4 teaspoon, respectively.

Major, Non-Essential Minerals

With about 9.7 milligrams per quarter-teaspoon of sea salt, sulfur is the third most common mineral in sea salt, says Western Analysis, Inc.. Even though it is not an essential mineral, sulfur plays an important role in your immune system and the detoxification of your body. Every cell in your body contains it, and it helps give structure to two amino acids. According to researcher Stephanie Seneff, Ph.D., sulfur is the eighth most common element in the human body and is important for normal metabolism and heart health.

Trace Elements

Sea salt can also contain numerous trace elements. These elements exist in minute concentrations but work with other minerals to maintain optimal function in your body. Trace minerals you may find in sea salt include phosphorus, bromine, boron, zinc, iron, manganese, copper and silicon. Your body uses some of these minerals, such as iron and zinc, to make enzymes involved in metabolism. Although phosphorus typically occurs in trace amounts in sea salt, it is actually an essential macro-mineral. Your body uses it as a structural component of bones, teeth and cell membranes, as well as for energy production.

About the Author

Suzanne Fantar has been writing online since 2009 as an outlet for her passion for fitness, nutrition and health. She enjoys researching and writing about health, but also takes interest in family issues, poetry, music, Christ, nature and learning. She holds a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Goucher College and a MBA in healthcare management from the University of Baltimore.

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