• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • START HERE
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
Prepare + Nourish logo
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • First Time? Start Here
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Healthy Basics » Unrefined Salt Guide - Importance of Mineral-Rich Salts and How to Use!

    Unrefined Salt Guide - Importance of Mineral-Rich Salts and How to Use!

    by: Anya·posted: Jul 28, 2016·updated: Oct 7, 2021·14 CommentsThis post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Unrefined Salt Guide - Importance of Mineral-Rich Salts and How to Use! Salt is a very important component for nourishment but not all salt is created equal.  Check out the most common ones most real-food cooks prepare meals with and find more exotic options. 

    The REAL FOOD Guide to Salt: Check out the guide to this very essential nutrient. Himalayan, Celtic, Maldon, etc... which one is best for all the different purposes.

    In addition to making foods taste salty, sodium has the innate ability to actually bring out the flavor of a particular food.  Ever wonder why it's necessary to add salt when making chocolate syrup or meringues or other baked goods.  By laws of chemistry (or is it physics?), sodium plays an important role in changing the compound of a food during the cooking process.  Salt also brings out the deep flavors creating different tones in a recipe.

    Unrefined Salt Guide - Importance of Mineral-Rich Salts and How to Use!

    The REAL FOOD Guide to Salt: Check out the guide to this very essential nutrient. Himalayan, Celtic, Maldon, etc... which one is best for all the different purposes.

    Salt is Essential to Nourishment

    Sodium has been getting a lot of negative attention as of late.  Many Americans struggle with sodium-related health issues such as high blood pressure but that doesn't make salt the bad guy.

    What makes salt bad is the process that includes chemical production and bleaching, robbing this perfect food of it's God-given nutrients.  On the other hand, unrefined salt is actually full of essential minerals and nutrients for proper electrolyte balance.

    The body needs optimal concentration of these nutrients in the bones, blood and organs in order to function properly.

    Furthermore, when consumers and companies follow the low-sodium diet, they often replace it with MSG and other additives to achieve the proper flavor because otherwise, the food tastes bland.

    Benefits of Trace Minerals Found in Unrefined Salt

    • Beneficial for oral health in remineralizing teeth.  (Tip: Rinse mouth with salt water to improve oral health)
    • May increase stomach acid and consequently aids in digestions (Tip: Generously season food with unrefined salt)
    • Alkalizing to the body and helps regulate healthy pH balance.
    • Trace minerals are essential for various hormone processes including reproductive health,  improved sleep, and adrenal and thyroid health.  (Tip: Add ½ teaspoon of Celtic Salt to warm lemon water and drink daily to support adrenal health.)
    • Promotes bone strength and reduces muscle cramps.
    • Regulates water content throughout the body.
    • Improves brain function and increases energy.
    • May have antihistamine effect by eliminating mucus buildup.

     

    The REAL FOOD Guide to Salt: Check out the guide to this very essential nutrient. Himalayan, Celtic, Maldon, etc... which one is best for all the different purposes.

    Why Switch from Table Salt to Unrefined Salt?

    If those reasons are not compelling enough to make the switch, consider this: There is only ONE table salt on the market.  All table salt is notorious for that revolting chemical smell and flavor and contains calcium silicate and dextrose.  However, when it comes to real, unrefined salt - there's an extensive selection of flavorful morsels to meet all your dietary needs. Some salts are better cooked, others are best used raw in salads.  But the variety and beauty of real salt is enough to make the substitution and never look back.

    Cyprus Flake Salt

    The REAL FOOD Guide to Salt: Check out the guide to this very essential nutrient. Himalayan, Celtic, Maldon, etc... which one is best for all the different purposes.

    A true Mediterranean salt, this one is known for it's distinctive shape, delicate crunch and mild taste.   This salt is hand-harvested from the warm waters off the island of Cyprus (just south of Turkey), hence the name.

    Best way to use: This salt works great as a finishing salt.  Crush the flakes between your thumb and fingertips and sprinkle over foods just before cooking. Cyprus Flake Salt is also highlights the sweetness of desserts such as dark chocolate.

    Best source:   You can snag 5 oz. of Cyprus Flake Sea Salt on Amazon.

    Price: $$$$

    Celtic Salt

    The REAL FOOD Guide to Salt: Check out the guide to this very essential nutrient. Himalayan, Celtic, Maldon, etc... which one is best for all the different purposes.

    Celtic Sea Salt is an ancient commodity, naturally harvested from Celtic Sea using a 2,000-year old Celtic method in order to preserve it's nutritional profile.  This salt retains its moisture and is slightly damp to touch.

    Best way to use: Top your favorite dishes with this salt.  Or throw a pinch directly into your mouth.  My kid's favorite: adding a pinch to sparkling water for some extra chemical reaction.  This is my ideal salt for mouthrinses as well. And Celtic Salt is great at pickling and fermenting veggies due to it's damp crystals.

    Best source: Amazon routinely has the 5-lb bag on sale for $20.  When they do, I usually do a shout out either on Facebook or Instagram so be sure to follow me there.  If 5 pounds seems too much (it's NOT!), try their 1-lb package.

    Price: $$

    Himalayan Crystal Salt

    The REAL FOOD Guide to Salt: Check out the guide to this very essential nutrient. Himalayan, Celtic, Maldon, etc... which one is best for all the different purposes.

    Found deep inside the pristine Himalayan Mountains, this salt has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Boasting 84-mineral content, it's great used as a Sole, super-saturated salty water.

    Best way to use: Use as a Sole drink or in salt mill to season your dishes.  Because of it's low cost compared to other salts, this is the salt of choice when cooking pasta or mashed potatoes since most of that water is discarded anyways.

    Best source: This is a great brand that I often find at my local Marshalls or HomeGoods store.

    Price: $

    Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

    The REAL FOOD Guide to Salt: Check out the guide to this very essential nutrient. Himalayan, Celtic, Maldon, etc... which one is best for all the different purposes.

    This salt is cultivated in a small town of Maldon, England where flat tide-washed marshes and low rainfall means high salinity.  According to legend, maldon was discovered by accident nearly 2,000 years ago when the slaves of a Roman commander overheated his bathwater, which was made out of seawater, thus creating salt.  As a result, the commander gave up reigning and turned to saltmaking.  It is thought that this was the world's very first salt.

    Best way to use: Because of Maldon's fresh flavor (and the steep price), it is best used as a finishing salt to meat, fish, and vegetables. I love topping my avocado toast with maldon.

    Best source: I always go for the authentic Maldon Sea Salt Flakes straight out of Maldon, England.

    Price: $$$

    Redmond's Real Salt

    The REAL FOOD Guide to Salt: Check out the guide to this very essential nutrient. Himalayan, Celtic, Maldon, etc... which one is best for all the different purposes.

    Real Salt is America's #1 Selling Natural Sea Salt brand and has a very delicate sweet flavor.  As most unrefined salt, it is completely additive free and has a full panel of natural trace minerals.  This is the only USA sourced natural sea salt since 1984.

    Best way to use: Because of it's fine grain, this salt is ideal to use in curing meats (see this tutorial for salmon lox) and to quickly season dips and salads without having to wait for other salts to dissolve.

    Best source: The best value for Real Salt is this 26-oz pouch, but a shaker works great when you don't need a large amount.

    Price: $-$$

    The cure for anything is SALT WATER.  Sweat, tears or the sea.    -Isak Dinesen

    Other Unrefined Salts

    That was not an exhaustive list by any stretch.  There are so many more different salts on the market but below are five common ones found in real food kitchens.  There's also the Fleur de Sel, a hand-harvested French salt (look for this in your local Trader Joe's) and the Black Hawaiian Salt that boasts a deep mineral flavor.  This Red Alaea Salt which interestingly comes from Hawaiian volcanic clay is naturally enhanced with iron-oxide, which gives the salt its beautiful red hue and unique flavor.

    I encourage you to try the different salts and see for yourself the depth of flavor they add to a dish.  Stay away from that blue can of iodinized salt and be nourished with all the minerals and richness of unrefined salt.

    Other Helpful Guides:

    The Ultimate Guide to natural Sweeteners

    6 Reasons Why You'll Fail at Real Food

    Nourishing Foods Defined

    How to Make Tomato Juice from Tomato Paste

    >>>Pin This<<<

    Himalayan Sea salt and an ultimate guide to unrefined salt

    If you liked the guide above, please consider leaving a comment below. Also, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. 

    The REAL FOOD Guide to Salt: Check out the guide to this very essential nutrient. Himalayan, Celtic, Maldon, etc... which one is best for all the different purposes.

    More Healthy Basics

    • blue cheese dressing in a white dish with fries above.
      Greek Yogurt Blue Cheese Dressing
    • chicken gravy with parsley in white gravy boat.
      Easy Chicken Gravy Recipe
    • Slices of carrots on the side of an airtight jar of carrots, placed on a white plate.
      Fermented Carrots Recipe
    • Italian seasoning in a clear jar with a spoon in it.
      Italian Seasoning Recipe
    • Facebook
    • Email

    About Anya

    Sharing wholesome recipes using seasonal ingredients and simplified methods since 2014. My hope is you'll feel right at home in this online kitchen, where you'll find real food recipes for real families.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. skyval says

      June 04, 2018 at 7:19 am

      Redmond's Real Salt is mined in Utah by a ranching family and is truly a family business .
      It is the purest and healthiest salt on earth with every mineral needed by your body and is one mile deep in the earth leftover from the ancient ocean of which the Great Salt Lake is the last remnant .
      It is ancient sea salt before the oceans had pollution .
      It is also on the American continent so it is LOCAL if your in the new world .
      How great is that ?

      Reply
    2. celtic sea salt iodine says

      July 25, 2018 at 9:07 am

      And, combined with the various minerals and nutrients in Himalayan Crystal salt, you'll find calcium: a mineral which fortifies in addition to whitens your
      teeth. While your medical professional may recommend a salt free diet, I
      believe this kind of diet is not merely dangerous, but foolish.

      If you have ever seen any one swimming within the
      Dead Sea water you could have seen them floating inside water.

      Reply
    3. David Smith says

      December 16, 2018 at 12:14 pm

      I was told that biblical gray salt from an island off the coast of Turkey that God gave to Noah would cure all diseases.
      Where can I buy this salt

      Reply
      • Anya says

        December 17, 2018 at 4:03 pm

        I've not heard of this salt. I'm sorry I can't help you, David. 🙂

        Reply
        • Elizabeth says

          April 01, 2022 at 7:27 am

          Thank you for sharing so valuable information

          Reply
    4. David Smith says

      December 16, 2018 at 12:17 pm

      I was told that biblical gray salt from an island off the coast of Turkey that God gave to Noah would cure all diseases.
      Where can I buy this salt.
      So far I have never received an answer.

      Reply
    5. Susan Voyles says

      November 27, 2024 at 10:17 am

      Thanks Anya. I saw that Trader Joes has sea salt as does Sprouts. It is labeled Sea Salt but it is white and I am worried that they are refined. How can I tell if a salt is unrefined if it doesn't specifically say so. I am particularly asking in regards to the two mentioned in this question. Do you happen to know if those two options are good unrefined real salt? I use Redmonds salt which I love however when baking bread it leaves crunchy sediment pieces even when using the "fine" salt. I am looking for an alternative that is better priced and doesn't leave sediment

      Reply
      • Anya says

        December 13, 2024 at 12:25 pm

        Hi Susan,
        I'm not super familiar with those two salts but a good place to start is actually contacting them to see what country of origin the salt is and how it's processed. I love Baja Gold for salt without sediment.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Anya at a farm

    Hello and welcome

    I'm Anya and it is my joy to share wholesome recipes using seasonal ingredients and simplified methods. My hope is you'll feel right at home in this online kitchen, where you'll find real food recipes for real families.

    More about me →

    Eating Nose-to-Tail? Try these

    collage of delicious recipes using organ meats.

    Seasonal Summer Favorites

    • fermented pickles in a weck jar with a red hot pepper.
      Easy Lacto-Fermented Dill Pickles Recipe
    • Sheet pan nachos with ground pork and vegetables on a tray.
      Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos Without Beans
    • Ahi tuna poke in a white bowl, with mayonnaise, chopsticks on the side, and green onion leeks in a beige bowl.
      Simple Ahi Tuna Poke Recipe
    • starbucks pink drink in plastic cups with fresh strawberries on the side.
      Starbucks Pink Drink Recipe (Healthy!)
    • Ground beef with broccoli and rice on a plate, with extra ground beef, broccoli in a pan, and spices on the side.
      Ground Beef and Broccoli Recipe
    • two bowls filled with cottage cheese and fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries and topped with honey; spoons in the bowls.
      Easy Cottage Cheese with Fruit Bowl Recipe

    Trending Now

    • mushrooms and chicken gravy with fresh thyme sprigs garnished on top.
      Easy Creamy Chicken Liver Recipe
    • stack of cassava flour crepes on a plate for frozen blackberries.
      Easy Gluten-Free French Crêpes Recipe
    • roasted cabbage with parsley garnish sprinkled on top.
      Simple Oven Roasted Buttered Cabbage Recipe
    • Caesar salad dressing in a weck jar
      Healthy Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe
    • Pickled red onions in a white bowl and in a clear jar beside it.
      Quick Pickled Red Onions (No Cook!)
    • Chia seed puddings in clear cups, served on a white plate with a strawberry and spoon on the side.
      Protein Chia Seed Pudding

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Never miss a new post!

    ... Subscribe

    About

    About Me

    Privacy Policy

    Contact

    Shop

    Recipes

    Recipe Index

    Dinner Recipes

    Fermentation Recipes

    Healthy Basics

    Connect

    Instagram

    Facebook

    Pinterest

    Youtube

    Copyright © 2025 Prepare + Nourish

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook