Salt with or without iodine?
Sea salt, Guérande salt, rock salt, vacuum salt, table salt, table salt with iodine or without, table salt with fluoride or without - the choice on supermarket shelves is huge. But how do the different types of salt differ from one another and which salt is healthier?
While conventional table salt is extracted from salt mines or brine and processed industrially, Guérande salt is a natural sea salt that is harvested by hand in the salt marshes of Guérande on the French Atlantic coast. It bears the Label Rouge quality seal awarded by the French Ministry of Agriculture.
Salt varieties differ not only in their origin and extraction process, but also in their composition and any artificial additives. One of the most important issues in this context is whether it is a salt with or without iodine.
Summary
Salt with or without iodine: why and for whom is it important?
Iodine is a natural trace element and an important component of the human organism. It is needed in particular to build up thyroid hormones. Inadequate iodine intake from drinking water and food can lead to an enlargement of the thyroid gland, known as goitre.
In Germany and many other countries, the soil and therefore foods such as vegetables and meat contain little iodine - in contrast to sea fish and seafood, which are good natural sources of iodine. Nevertheless, to ensure that everyone has an adequate supply and to prevent iodine deficiency, food salts are fortified with iodine.
The disadvantages of refined and iodized table salt
Salt is refined using chemical processes in which the salt is exposed to high temperatures, bleached and filtered to remove impurities and preserve it better. The natural minerals are also lost in the process. In addition, artificial additives such as anti-agglomeration agents, so-called anti-caking agents, are added to the salt so that it does not form lumps and is easier to dose.
Iodine is one of the minerals of which the human body only needs a small amount. Although iodized salt can be important to counteract an iodine deficiency, it should only be consumed in small quantities. This is because an excess of iodine is also hazardous to health, as it can lead to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, for example.
In general, increased salt consumption can also increase the risk of high blood pressure and should therefore be avoided.
Salt with fluoride or without: advantages and disadvantages
In addition to iodine, table salt is also often enriched with sodium or potassium fluoride. This primarily serves to prevent tooth decay, as the increased fluoride concentration in saliva when eating has been proven to strengthen tooth enamel and protect against tooth decay.
Salt with fluoride is therefore a practical solution if you do not ingest enough fluoride through toothpaste, food (black and green tea, fish, seafood) or mineral water. However, it should also be noted here that there are dangers associated with increased consumption. For example, an excessive intake of fluoride over a longer period of time can lead to bone or dental fluorosis.
What is normal table salt
Sodium chloride is referred to as normal table salt, which is used as a fine, white table salt for seasoning food in the household, for preservation in the food industry and also in medicine. It is an industrially processed and chemically purified salt that is often mixed with additives and no longer contains any natural minerals. In contrast to conventional table salt, natural Guérande salt is free from additives and rich in minerals.
Guérande salt: a natural and healthy alternative
Guérande salt comes from the salt marshes in French Brittany, where sea water from the Atlantic evaporates and the salt crystallizes. After several weeks, the salt is harvested by hand in a centuries-old tradition and dried in the air. A sustainable and environmentally friendly process that preserves all the natural minerals (magnesium, calcium, potassium).
The salt is neither refined nor enriched with chemical additives. Unlike refined white salt, which consists almost exclusively of sodium chloride and has a sodium concentration of 39%, Guérande's naturally gray sea salt contains other natural trace elements in addition to sodium chloride and, depending on the harvest and moisture content, only around 35% pure sodium.
These trace elements make Guérande salt a healthy alternative.
Which salt is healthier?
Which salt you should use for cooking depends on your individual needs. If you suffer from iodine or fluoride deficiency, it is advisable to use a salt with appropriate additives to compensate for this and prevent health problems. If you consume enough iodine and fluoride from other sources and prefer a natural salt with minerals and an aromatic taste, Guérande salt is the right choice.
But no matter which salt you choose, enjoy it in moderation! Although salt is important for the human body, especially for the water balance, blood pressure, nerves and muscles, excessive salt consumption is dangerous. Therefore, only use small amounts of salt for cooking.
You can find recipe ideas for using Guérande salt here. All recipes have been developed or tested by star chefs and talented chefs. Our Guérande salt is suitable for starters and main courses as well as desserts. You can use the coarse Guérande salt for cooking pasta and vegetables and for cooking in a salt crust, such as "Chicken in salt crust". The ground, finer Guérande salt is versatile and can be used to season dishes, but also to refine doughs and soufflés ("caramel soufflé with salted butter") can be used. Fleur de sel is particularly suitable as a natural flavor enhancer for fresh vegetables, but also for desserts such as the "Caramel Ice Cream with Fleur de Se". Flavored salts are ideal for spicing up dressings, soups and vegetable dishes such as the "millefeuille of vegetables and sardines".
Guérande salt offers a number of advantages over conventional table salt, as it is a high-quality, natural product with numerous natural trace elements that are important for our health. It can be used in a wide variety of recipes and the Le Guérandais cooperative offers numerous products - from coarse salt to ground salt, from fine fleur de sel to flavoured salts and the new "Jardins Intense" range of crystallized flavourings:
Surely there is the right Guérande salt for your taste.
Tell us which salt you prefer to use for cooking?
