The Truth Behind Salt - Is Celtic Sea Salt Worth The Hype?

Table salt has been out of fashion for some time. Now Celtic sea salt is in the limelight, mainly due to being “unrefined and very high in essential minerals”. It is also celebrated for its “unique hydrating qualities” if added to drinking water. But, as is often the case with health topics, there are a lot of discordant and differing opinions cropping up about salt in the wellbeing space.

Healf investigates the substance behind these arguments with advice on what makes Celtic salt different to other table salt alternatives such as Himalayan salt, Redmond Real Salt and Baja Gold.

1. Purity : The number one reason for Celtic salt’s popularity is purity thanks to the unique extraction processes and the location of its harvesting.

2. Mineral content : Another standout feature of Celtic sea salt is its impressive content of essential minerals. This includes minerals like magnesium, potassium and calcium.

3. Electrolyte balance : Celtic salt is also said to be an effective and natural way to maintain your body’s electrolyte balance, a key factor in staying hydrated and keeping muscles functioning optimally.

4. Digestive health benefits : There is evidence to suggest that due to the high mineral content of Celtic salt, it may also aid in healthy digestion, being attributed to a smoother production in digestive enzymes that are crucial for breaking down food efficiently. This way, Celtic salt is touted for being soothing to gut issues such as bloating, whilst helping you to better absorb the nutrients from your food.

Drinking adequate amounts of water is essential, yet it is the balance between minerals and water in your body that truly counts. People use Celtic salt in their drinking water every day due to claims that it helps your body store and retain the water you are drinking, hence keeping you “fully hydrated”. Fluid and electrolyte balance is especially important for athletes or active people.

Adding to this, Celtic salt is also used to prevent acidity in the body by creating a more alkaline environment and helping to maintain the delicate pH balance, affecting many crucial body functions.

However, it doesn't stop with water. If it suits you better, use it in your protein shake or a small pinch in your morning coffee or mushroom latte.

To rely less on salt for flavour in food you can add ingredients such as garlic, lemon juice or zest, black pepper, dill or onion powder to a dish.

Fans of Himalayan salt often base their preference on the concept that this salt is extracted from a source very low in microplastics. The first records of mining this salt date back to the Janjua clan in the 1200s. Like Celtic salt, it is also very high in trace minerals and a more balanced option than sodium-heavy table salt. It gets its famous pink colouration from the iron oxide content.

Celtic salt is different, in that it is mined from the ocean in a very traditional way. The salt is from the Northwest coast of France, it is sun dried and evaporated from clay ponds near the shoreline. As with Himalayan salt, this traditional process means there is a greatly reduced chance of contamination from microplastics.

The colour and texture of Celtic salt may differ as it is naturally sourced and minimally processed. It may be slightly more grey in colour and it has a higher moisture content, resembling wet sand.

These are some other popular salts with health benefit claims. As with the comparison between Himalayan salt and Celtic salt, it is difficult and perhaps unnecessary to say one variety is better than all the others. The beauty lies in the subtle differences these natural salts can offer. If you wanted to focus more on mineral content, for example, perhaps try Baja Gold due to the biologically diverse and mineral rich quality of the estuary from which it is harvested. If contaminants are your concern, Redmond salt is extracted in Utah, deep below a layer of limestone, protecting it from environmental pollution.

Another factor to consider includes the source. A lot of these popular salts, including Himalayan, Redmond Real Salt and Baja Gold all come from ancient seas, whereas Celtic Salt comes from the ocean but the harvesting techniques ensure a very high level of purity. 

Unlike table salt, Celtic salt has the ability to enhance natural flavours in food without overpowering them. That said, it does have a strong flavour and a pleasant brine-like quality to it. When reviewed, some say it is richer and much smoother in taste than other types of salt on the market.

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