Most of us grew up thinking salt was just… salt. The white shaker on the table, the thing you add to pasta water, the ingredient every recipe calls for without a second thought.
But if you’ve ever swapped your regular table salt for a natural sea salt, especially something like Celtic salt, you may have noticed your food suddenly tastes fuller, smoother, and somehow more “alive.” Many people say it feels better in their bodies, too.
That’s not a coincidence, and it’s not foodie snobbery. There really is a difference between these two types of salt, and once you understand it, the choice becomes surprisingly simple.
So let’s take a look at what separates table salt from unrefined sea salt, and why one of them still behaves like a real food, while the other has been processed to the point of losing nearly everything nature built into it.
🧂 Table Salt
Table salt starts out as real, natural salt… but it doesn’t stay that way for long.
It’s mined from underground deposits, then heavily refined to remove anything that isn’t pure sodium chloride. During this process, the natural minerals that once supported hydration and balanced electrolytes are stripped away. The salt is also heated to extremely high temperatures, which changes its structure even further.
Because all of this refining leaves the salt clumpy, manufacturers add anti-caking agents so it flows easily. Because the natural iodine is removed, they add iodine back in. And to make sure it looks perfectly white, bleaching agents or whitening processes are often used.
It’s convenient, consistent and cheap, but it’s also far removed from the whole, mineral-rich salt our bodies evolved with.
🌊 Celtic Sea Salt
Celtic sea salt, on the other hand, is salt in its original form. It’s hand-harvested from coastal salt flats, dried naturally by sun and wind, and left unrefined.
No high-heat processing, no bleaching, no anti-caking agents, no additives at all.
This is why it’s slightly damp and naturally grey - a sign that it still contains trace minerals. These minerals give the salt a gentler flavour, a softer texture, and a nutritional profile that’s far closer to what humans have consumed for thousands of years.
💧 Why Your Body Loves Sea Salt
It’s becoming harder and harder to get essential trace minerals from the foods we eat. Modern farming practices, depleted topsoil, and monocropping have left much of our soil significantly lower in nutrients than it was even a few decades ago.
So even when we’re eating “healthy” foods, unless they’re grown on regenerative farmland, chances are they won’t contain the same mineral levels our grandparents’ diets offered.
Our oceans, however, haven’t lost their mineral richness. Trace elements like magnesium, calcium, potassium, and dozens more remain abundant in seawater, which is exactly why traditional, unrefined sea salts (like Celtic salt) still contain these essential minerals in large amounts.
High-quality Celtic sea salt can contain large amounts of trace minerals, including:
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Copper
These minerals:
- Support electrolyte balance
- Aid hydration
- Help maintain healthy nerve + muscle function
- Give Celtic salt its distinctive flavour and smooth texture
When your body gets these minerals naturally, not as isolated additives, it absorbs and uses them more effectively. That’s why sea salt tends to make people feel more hydrated, balanced, and energised.
😬 What’s the Problem With Table Salt?
1. It’s heavily refined
The intense processing removes beneficial minerals and alters the natural structure of the salt.
2. It can contribute to an electrolyte imbalance
Because it’s nearly pure sodium chloride, it can increase sodium levels without supporting the minerals that help balance them.
3. It hydrates poorly
This is a big one. Sodium alone doesn’t hydrate you; electrolytes do. Celtic sea salt contains natural electrolytes, helping your body absorb water more efficiently.
🙅 How to Tell If It’s Real
Not all “sea salt” is truly unrefined. Some are processed in similar ways to table salt.
Look for labels that mention:
- Unrefined
- Hand-harvested
- No additives
-
Naturally moist or grey
Good options include:
- Celtic Sea Salt
- Himalayan Pink Salt
- Unrefined pure sea salt from reputable producers
Celtic salt is a favourite of ours because it’s harvested using ancient, low-impact methods that keep minerals intact.
🌿 Salt That Loves You Back
Our bodies need salt… just not the empty, ultra-processed kind. Your body was designed to thrive on natural minerals, not bleached and boosted sodium chloride. Celtic salt tastes better, helps you hydrate better, and works with your body, not against it.
So next time you’re in the kitchen, skip the table salt and reach for the real thing instead.
📚 References & Further Reading
“Sea salt vs. table salt: Differences and health benefits.” Medical News Today.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326519 Medical News Today
“Does Celtic sea salt have any benefits?” Medical News Today. (on Celtic salt specifically)
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/celtic-sea-salt-benefits Medical News Today
“What Is Sea Salt?” EatingWell. (Explains sea salts, mineral content, and comparison to table salt)
https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7994585/sea-salt-versus-table-salt-whats-the-difference/ EatingWell
“Sea Salt vs Celtic Salt: Differences, Minerals & Benefits.” SeaSaltWonders.com — details mineral content and harvesting methods.
https://seasaltwonders.com/sea-salt-vs-celtic-salt/ Seasalt Wonders
“Celtic Sea Salt vs Table Salt: Shocking Salt Discovery.” Preventive Medicine Daily — mineral comparison and composition.
https://www.preventivemedicinedaily.com /healthy-living/nutrition/celtic-salt-vs-table-salt-shocking-salt-discovery/ Preventive Medicine Daily
