Switching from refined table salt to real unrefined sea salt without additives is an easy switch!
Refined salt (even the white sea salt sold in regular grocery stores) has been stripped of all the trace minerals from the sea and had 'free flowing agents' added in. Moist grey sea salt contains trace minerals that are in their natural form. I don't think it's any coincidence that salt is naturally paired with natural iodine (which industrial salt tries to mimic with synthetic iodine) and that people people crave a little salt on their food for flavor. Natural unrefined sea salt is a healthy addition to our foods!
If you're just starting to cook from scratch, I recommend starting simply with fresh ground pepper and sea salt to flavor your food. When we started I was surprised at how good eggs, hamburgers, or steak is with the addition of freshly ground pepper and salt. No more A1 sauce for this house!
Isn't salt bad for you?
I have no doubt that processed synthetically iodized salt is bad for you; synthetic chemicals and refined foods usually are. It is also true that we need the trace minerals that are naturally present in sea salt, so choosing sea salt and salting food to taste ensures you get these wonderful trace minerals in a natural- and biologically useful form. And unlike processed foods that rely on a high salt content to dress up bland shelf-stable food, when we're using fresh foods and natural sea salt, we don't overdo it.
I've been reminded that salt is okay on two separate occasions (before I found the whole Real Food/Weston A. Price way of eating).
The first was on Blue Ribbon Baby, the prenatal 'diet' that is designed to prevent preeclampsia in pregnancy it's recommended to salt food to taste.
And the second was when my first child started eating solids, she loved the foods from my plate (with plenty of seasonings) but I thought that she was supposed to start on plain steamed veggies, but was puzzled when she wouldn't touch them. A friend suggested I add a little sea salt, and she gobbled them right up. While I don't believe that children know everything about what's best for them I do believe that for eating, babies do have a pretty good sense of what's needed for them nutritionally, as long as they are offered real foods.
(If you have Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats, there is a more information on dietary salt on page 48 and continuing.) (amazon affiliate link)
I've seen salt and pepper grinders at Target. We have goofy looking set of pepper grinders at Ross with ceramic grinders (ceramic is supposed to be the best), and higher end kitchen stores have nice quality pepper grinders. You don't need a different grinder for salt than you do pepper - mine are two 'pepper' grinders.
I use the coarse salt when I know it will dissolve for sure (like when making pickles or mayonnaise) but I grind before measuring for pancakes, cookies, bread, etc. Some people say that you can use half as much sea salt as you would refined salt, but I usually stick to the recipe.
Just like coconut oil, and healthy snacks, if you have good salt in your house it will end up being used because it's an easy healthy alternative.
What questions do you have about making the switch? Or have you already switched to real sea salt? Doesn't it feel gourmet?
It's an easy thing to change, I promise.
More:
About children and 'food instincts'
A look at our salt and pepper grinders
(Ed. note - My two favorite Real Food advocates must be on the same wavelength these days. For even more on real sea salt, read Katie's article The Healthful Benefits of Sea Salt over at Simple Organic!)
Cara lives in Montana with her husband and two young children (3 and 1). She enjoys playing with her kids, cooking, crafts, and reading. She writes at Health, Home and Happiness.
