Kosher salt and table salt are almost similar in some ways, except for one important factor: the salt’s sodium content. A pinch of kosher salt has only about 2,000mg of salt, while a single tablespoon of sea salt will have about five times that amount. The concentration of sodium varies from one variety of kosher salt to another, as does its color. Some kosher salts have an oily, cloudy appearance; others have a fine, powdery white texture. Some kosher salts have a hint of iodine while others lack it; still others taste like licorice and are called Dead Sea salt.
One of the most distinctive kosher salt benefits is its mineral content. Because the kosher salt contains a very small amount of minerals, the salt usually goes unrefined, with a lower concentration of iron, magnesium, calcium, and sodium. Table salt, on the other hand, is almost entirely made up of these trace amounts of these essential minerals. A pinch of sea salt will contain about five times more trace minerals than table salt. You can test the mineral content of your kosher salt by rubbing a bit of the salt against your finger, where you’ll find that it retains trace amounts of several of the minerals. You should not be able to detect any of the minerals in the salt, however, unless it’s highly refined.
In order to prevent food-borne disease, it’s recommended that anyone preparing kosher meals also eat unrefined sea salt and table salt in moderation. The trace mineral content of kosher salt and table salt are enough to prevent food-borne disease, but they are not enough to completely compensate for a diet lacking in other essential nutrients. Sea salt and table salt contain negligible amounts of iodine, the trace mineral that plays an important role in iodine deficiency.
Iodine plays an essential role in thyroid function. An iodine deficiency can cause hyperthyroidism, goiter, and chronic fatigue. Iodine is necessary for the body to produce thyroid hormones, and a decrease in iodine can contribute to symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Iodine deficiency also contributes to increased vulnerability to infections. Iodine is one of the metals that cause metallic ions to adhere to cells. Concentrated iodine can enter the blood stream through the lungs, where it combines with other elements during cooking and can accumulate in the thyroid gland, causing an increase in thyroid hormones.
During the kosher salt curing process, various additional health benefits are realized. One of those is the addition of anti-caking agents to the salt, which inhibits the formation of cholesterol in the blood stream. This contributes to lowering the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis, two of the most common cardiovascular diseases. It lowers the absorption of fat and lowers blood pressure. Studies have also shown that the addition of kosher salt to the diet leads to a decrease in the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, resulting in lower levels of blood sugar.
Salt has long been known to have properties that are beneficial to human health. During the kosher salt curing process, the surface of the salt tends to form a film, or crust, that inhibits bacteria from growing on it and sticking to it, as well as facilitating the movement of the salt molecules. In this way, it prevents the formation of haemoglobin, the compound that red blood cells use for carrying oxygen to the cells and transferring it to the blood. Haemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen to all tissues in the body and the higher the concentration of haemoglobin in your blood, the better your overall circulation. As a result, a higher concentration of oxygenated blood means a higher metabolic rate, a healthier immune system, and better overall health.
In addition to being used in the kitchen, kosher salt is often used in other fine dining establishments. Because kosher salt contains so many minerals and nutrients, especially sodium, it is frequently added to seafood, such as salmon and cod. The crystals that kosher salt produces leave a natural saltiness that enhances the taste and textures of sea foods. The same effect can be achieved by adding kosher salt to tomato sauce or to sauteed meats and vegetables instead of using table salt.
kosher salt does not really have a salty taste, contrary to what you might be used to if you have eaten packaged table salt for some time. The salt works in the pores of the food to draw out the flavor as opposed to absorbing the flavors of the food with the water. That’s why you will usually notice a difference in taste between kosher salt and regular table salt, as the former relies on its external impurities to draw out the better flavor from the food, while the latter tends to lose most of its saltiness as it dries up. kosher salt is truly a great addition to your kitchen pantry and should be used in greater amounts than you do now if you want to enjoy saltiness all day long.