Tag: Raw salt

The World Health Organization recommends that adults consume less than 5 grams of salt per day, yet globally, most people consume much more. While chronic overconsumption leads to long-term health issues, acutely ingesting a large amount of raw salt can trigger a rapid cascade of dangerous bodily reactions, from severe dehydration to life-threatening electrolyte imbalances.

While highly processed table salt undergoes extensive refinement, leaving behind few natural minerals, many unrefined salts retain their mineral-rich composition, making them safe and flavorful to consume raw. This guide explores which salt can be eaten raw, highlighting the best choices for seasoning and finishing dishes without heat.

According to the World Health Organization, the global mean salt intake is more than double the recommended amount. While a small amount is essential for health, knowingly consuming raw salt can have both immediate and severe consequences, from intense thirst and bloating to dangerous electrolyte imbalances. This guide breaks down the science behind what happens if you eat raw salt and how your body reacts.

Raw salt, often harvested through solar evaporation, retains a diverse mix of minerals, while table salt is extensively refined to produce almost pure sodium chloride. This difference in processing, not the sodium content, is the primary way raw salt differs from table salt, impacting their texture, flavor, and use.

Over millions of years, rain and rivers have carried dissolved minerals from rocks into the ocean, providing the fundamental components for salt formation. This natural process is the origin of raw salt, which is comprised of sodium chloride along with a variety of other trace minerals.

Unlike common table salt, which undergoes extensive industrial refining, Celtic salt is celebrated for its unprocessed nature, retaining its natural mineral composition. Harvested by hand using age-old Celtic methods from the coastal regions of France, this unique sea salt is sun and wind-dried in clay-lined beds, preserving a wealth of valuable trace minerals and moisture.