If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably seen the buzz around Celtic sea salt also called sel gris or “grey salt.” Fans love it for its natural purity, mineral content, and supposed hydrating power. But what makes it different from your regular table salt?

Celtic sea salt comes from the pristine coastal salt flats of Brittany, France, where seawater is slowly evaporated by the sun and wind. What’s left behind are beautiful, slightly moist, grey crystals that hold on to trace minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, and zinc, straight from the ocean (1).

Unlike your typical table salt, which is bleached, refined, and mixed with anti-caking agents, Celtic sea salt is unrefined, additive-free, and naturally full of flavour (2). It retains trace minerals which can contribute to hydration, electrolyte balance, and a more alkaline diet (3).

Celtic sea salt can contain up to 80 trace minerals, giving it a slight nutritional edge (4). It also has a bit less sodium per teaspoon (around 1,840 mg versus 2,300 mg in table salt), but that’s mostly because its coarse flakes are larger and take up more space in your spoon. By weight, both are roughly 40% sodium (5).

It's often used by chefs for its unique taste and culinary versatility. Many people find it tastes softer and more balanced, making it a great finishing salt for your meals.

That said, it is still salt, so moderation is key. Too much sodium, from any source, can raise your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. The World Health Organization recommends keeping your salt intake below 5 grams a day, or roughly one teaspoon (6).

So while Celtic sea salt won’t magically balance your electrolytes or replace a balanced diet, it is a naturally harvested, mineral-rich option that brings a touch of the ocean to your table with a little more flavour, texture, and wellness appeal.

For further information on Celtic sea salt or other health issues, call to see the team at Go Vita, Your Health Shop at 5 North St, Batemans Bay or phone on 44729737. Don’t forget to tune in to Marianne and Go Vita’s Nutritionist Sofia on 2EC after 12.30pm every Wednesday.

References

1. WebMD. What Is Celtic Salt? (2023). https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/celtic-salt
2. Healthline. Celtic Sea Salt: Benefits, Side Effects, and Facts (2023). https://www.healthline.com/health/celtic-sea-salt-benefits
3. National Library of Medicine. Electrolyte Balance and Hydration Physiology (2018). PMID: 29382425
4. Mayo Clinic Health System. Is Sea Salt Healthier Than Table Salt? (2022). https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/is-sea-salt-healthier-than-table-salt
5. American Heart Association. Sea Salt vs. Table Salt (2023). https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium/sea-salt-vs-table-salt
6. World Health Organization. Salt Reduction Fact Sheet (2020). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/salt-reduction