No Pressure on Blood Pressure: The Secret of Unprocessed Salt
Like all things edible, unprocessed serves us & processed does not.
Nearly half of all adults in the United States face high blood pressure, and while conventional wisdom says that reducing salt intake is the solution, this actually ignores a crucial part of the story: it is the type of salt that matters. Unprocessed salt is a critical remedy, while processed salt is often the culprit.
Processed salt—the kind you typically find on grocery store shelves—has been stripped of naturally occurring electrolyte minerals like magnesium, sulfur, and potassium. These electrolytes are critical to the body's ability to process and metabolize salt. Without them, salt (such as kosher or table salt) enters the body in an imbalanced state, contributing to health issues. This salt is also widely used as a preservative, adding hidden salt to packaged foods, leading to unintentional overconsumption. If we are eating a lot of processed foods, we are consuming a lot of processed salt.
Why Our Bodies Need Salt
Salt is essential for life, playing a vital role in muscle function, electrolyte balance, and even blood pressure regulation. Formed naturally from ocean minerals, salt contains a variety of essential electrolytes when left unprocessed. As the chloride and sodium in water collides with the magnesium and potassium on the shore, salt crystals are formed. Salt is the only edible crystal in the world! This natural process is the reason why raw salts, like ocean and river salts, are both sustainable and beneficial.
The Problem with Processed Salt
Unfortunately, most table salts are heavily processed and lack the beneficial minerals found in unprocessed salt. Standard table salt is stripped of electrolytes and bleached, leaving only sodium chloride without the essential minerals our bodies need.
While salt was at one time so precious it was more valuable than gold, technology has made salt mining much easier and so now salt is one of the cheapest crystals you can buy. Unfortunately, it offers little nutritional benefit. Choosing unprocessed salts, rich in minerals, supports your body’s natural electrolyte balance and promotes healthy blood pressure.
Which Kind of Unprocessed Salt Should I Use? Himalayan Salt vs. Atlantic Grey Salt vs. White Salts vs. Sea Salt vs. Black Salt vs. Table/Kosher Salt
When choosing a salt for health benefits, it’s essential to know the differences between Himalayan, Atlantic Grey, and generic sea salts. Each type has unique origins, mineral content, and environmental impacts, which can influence both health and sustainability.
Grey Salts
Grey Salts are magnesium rich which gives them their namesake. Grey salts include Atlantic Grey, French, and Celtic. They are harvested directly from mineral-dense clay fields along the Atlantic coast and have some of the highest amounts and types of trace elements of any salt. This is why it is our most recommended salt and considered a dhyana Essential.
The fields from which grey salt is harvested impart valuable nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium, supporting overall health, especially for kidney, adrenal, and heart function. In addition to its health benefits, grey salt is harvested sustainably, making it a renewable and environmentally friendly choice.
Himalayan Pink Salt
Himalayan Pink Salt gets its color from the presence of iron oxide (rust). While it is trace mineral-rich, its origins are much different than sea salt. This salt is mined from ancient sea beds deep within the Himalayan Mountains, which were once under oceans millions of years ago. However, Himalayan salt has become a source of geopolitical tension, with India and Pakistan currently disputing the mining rights. Its extraction also leads to environmental harm, as the salt is not renewable, and mining damages the surrounding mountain regions. Therefore, despite its popularity, choosing Himalayan salt comes with ethical and environmental concerns. This is why we choose not to sell Himalayan pink salt at dhyana Essentials.
White Sea Salts
White salts are particularly potassium rich and include Sonoma, Cypress flake. and Mediterranean salt. They are unprocessed and harvested from the oceans and are rich in essential minerals, including magnesium, calcium, and potassium, which help support electrolyte balance and overall health. Its coarse, flaky texture and delicate flavor make it a versatile addition to culinary creations, while its mineral-rich composition makes it a favorite for bath soaks and exfoliating scrubs. dhyana Essentials carries Sonoma salt.
Generic Sea Salt
Generic sea salt or often just called "sea salt" is refined sea salt. The fact that it is refined moves many of the trace minerals found in unprocessed salts. It typically has a more limited mineral profile and is often stripped of natural elements that would otherwise be beneficial to the body. Generic sea salt may also undergo processing that removes beneficial minerals, making it less effective for health support compared to natural salts like white or grey salt.
However, if you find a sea salt that is solar (sun) dried and unprocessed, such as with white salts, it is absolutely ok to use. It provides many essential nutrients and will help hydrate the body.
Kala Namak (Black Salt)
Kala Namak, also known as Himalayan Black Salt, is a unique salt with a strong sulfuric taste and smell, making it distinct in flavor and composition. Despite its name, it is actually pink in color. It gets its name from the fact that it comes from sulphur springs that run through volcanic rock. Its high sulfur content gives it an egg-like flavor and aroma, often used in cooking to add a robust, savory note. Beyond its culinary applications, Kala Namak is known as a powerful cleanser, aiding in digestion and detoxification. It also aids in removing heavy metals from the body, via a process known as chelation.
Even though this salt comes from the Himalayas, it is sustainably sourced, unlike Himalayan Pink salt, since it comes from active sulphur springs that are constantly producing more Kala Namak. In contrast, the pink salt comes from salt deposits that were formed one drop at a time over millions of years.
Table/Kosher Salt
The issue with table and kosher salt (as well as refined sea salt) is that they have been stripped of their other minerals, leaving a high concentration of sodium.
While all salts contain sodium as a trace mineral, without its balanced mineral profile, it can be very inflammatory (contributing to issues like high blood pressure). However, when sodium is properly balanced with other minerals, it packs an ionic punch of energy that activates the supporting minerals. This is where the difference between processed and unprocessed salt becomes crucial. Like most whole foods, unprocessed salts are balanced and ready for the body by nature. Processed salts, however, lose their wholeness through over-processing, stripping them of the natural synergy that defines their healthful properties.
| Salt Type | Leading Mineral | Origin | Environmental Impact | Notes |
|---|
| Grey Salts | Magnesium | Mineral-dense clay fields along Atlantic Coast | Sustainably harvested; renewable and environmentally friendly | Recommended by dhyana Essentials; includes Atlantic Grey, French, and Celtic salts |
| Himalayan Pink Salt | Iron Oxide | Ancient sea beds in Himalayan Mountains | Non-renewable; mining causes environmental damage and geopolitical tensions | Not sold by dhyana Essentials due to ethical and environmental concerns |
| White Sea Salts | Potassium | Oceans (Sonoma, Cypress, Mediterranean) | Sustainably harvested; environmentally friendly | dhyana Essentials carries Sonoma salt |
| Generic Sea Salt | Sodium | Refined sea salt | Often industrially processed; limited environmental considerations | Opt for solar-dried, unprocessed sea salts for a healthier alternative |
| Kala Namak (Black Salt) | Sulfur | Himalayan region | Sulphur salt comes from active sulphur springs in himalayas; sustainable | Known for its strong sulfuric aroma and robust taste; supports detoxification |
| Table/Kosher Salt | Sodium | Processed salt | Industrially refined; additives often included | Choose unprocessed alternatives to maintain mineral balance and health benefits |
The Kidney-Heart Connection
When you choose raw, unprocessed salt, you’re doing more than quenching your thirst. You’re also replenishing your body’s electrolyte balance and supporting kidney function, which plays a critical role in heart health.
Salt: The Essential Edible Crystal
Salt is more than just a seasoning—it’s an essential element for health, providing crucial electrolytes and minerals that support the body’s functions. While Himalayan Pink Salt and generic sea salt are popular, they may not be the most sustainable or nutrient-rich options. When it comes to choosing the best salt, Atlantic Grey Salt remains our most recommended salt for its mineral richness and sustainability, making it ideal for supporting kidney, adrenal, and heart health.
For those seeking a salt with unique detoxifying properties, Kala Namak offers additional benefits as a powerful cleanser with a distinctive sulfuric flavor.
By selecting salts that are minimally processed and rich in natural minerals, we nourish not only our taste buds but also our overall well-being.