Sea salt is marine salt that is made by the evaporation process of seawater. It's frequently used as a cooking seasoning, cooking utensils, cosmetics, and even for preserving food. Sometimes, it's also referred to as black kosher salt or solar sea salt. The most well-known species of this type of salt are rock salt and sea salt. As of today, it is still being mined around the world.
Like mined gold, production of sea salt is dated back to prehistoric times. It was used by primordial man for medicinal purposes. Today, it is still used for the same purposes. Over the years, it has become increasingly popular for its many uses.
Here are just some of them:
Reducing and maintaining the blood pressure. Many sea salts contain extremely high sodium contents. High blood pressure can result from a high sodium diet. Salt intake increases the sodium in the blood, stimulating the heart to pump harder, which eventually can aggravate the blood pressure. This is why many salt shakers and dietitians recommend reducing salt intake.
Preserving the food for prolonged storage. Sea salt contains a very high concentration of sodium. It can be kept for several months or years without losing its salt crystal structure. The longer the storage period, the longer it will retain the sodium content of the food. Food such as canned goods, soups, stews, beans, and vegetables that have a long shelf life can be enjoyed long after they are brought out from storage. The longer storage period can also help preserve the flavor of the preserved food.
Improving the taste of less-processed foods. Many people are becoming aware of the beneficial effects of sea salt on the body and are using it more frequently in cooking and baking to add more flavor. A salty taste in less processed foods makes the less processed foods more appealing to the taste buds.
Reducing or eliminating bad tastes in the mouth. A salty taste in the mouth is often caused by the high sodium content in kosher salt, table salt, or sea salt. Table salt contains sodium lauryl sulfate, which is believed to be a very harmful substance to the human body. Sea salt does not contain this dangerous substance. Therefore, sea salt is a healthier alternative that adds a salty taste to food without the harmful effects of table salt. Furthermore, sea salt actually has more health benefits than table salt.
Improving the taste of food that requires deep cooking. When food is cooked for a long time in the oven or stove, the flavors can begin to dry out and lose their distinctive taste. This happens because the concentration of flavor chemicals in the cooking oil increases, and eventually creates a dry and tasteless piece of food. But when sea salt is added during the cooking process, it naturally ionizes the cooking oil and draws out the flavor compounds from the oil. This allows the food to have a higher concentration of healthy minerals like sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Sea salt also helps to release the nutrients that are removed from the food during the roasting or boiling process.
Better taste in tomato-based sauces. Salty-free tomato-based sauces can oftentimes result in bland-tasting foods and may make dishes with lean meats taste even worse. Sea salt on the other hand brings out the natural flavors and colors of tomatoes, allowing the tomato-based sauces to have an even better taste. This also applies to soups, stews, and other foods that have a heavy flavor to them like meat or fish sauce. No longer do you have to put up with eating bland-tasting foods.
