Sea salt: what useful substances its composition is rich in, what positive effect it has on the human body, are there any contraindications to its use. Sea salt recipes. Separately, it is worth talking about the salt mined in the Dead Sea. Compared to other species, it contains only about 20% sodium chloride. The rest is occupied by minerals and chemical elements. The potassium present in it promotes better penetration of nutrients into tissue cells, magnesium slows down the aging process, calcium strengthens bones and promotes tissue regeneration.
Useful properties of sea salt
The benefits of sea salt lie in the balanced content of mineral elements. They have a beneficial effect on the body.
When eaten regularly, sea salt:
- Helps to improve skin condition: acne disappears, tone increases;
- Increases the body's defenses, the ability to resist diseases increases;
- Has a beneficial effect on the human nervous system and reduces the tendency to stressful conditions, eliminates depression, restores sleep;
- Restores hormonal levels, the ratio of hormone levels returns to normal;
- Optimizes metabolism: accelerates the course of chemical reactions in the body;
- Reduces the likelihood of oncology: the daily use of sea salt helps to avoid cancer;
- Purifies the blood, suppresses free radicals and removes toxins;
- Helps with joint diseases - arthritis, rheumatism;
- Stabilizes the process of saliva formation;
- Stimulates digestion, promotes the production of beneficial bacteria in the intestines.
Sea salt, rich in iodine, is needed by children, it regulates the production of thyroid hormone, promotes mental development.
Sea salt is recommended for patients with diabetes mellitus, as its presence in the daily diet reduces blood glucose levels and improves well-being.
Sea salt is indispensable during colds, washing with it helps to get rid of a runny nose with sinusitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, and gargling - from sore throat.
Harm and contraindications to the use of sea salt
Moderate consumption of sea salt in food has only a positive effect on the human body. While abusing it can do significant harm. The daily portion of the product should not exceed seven grams.
Otherwise, the following consequences are possible:
- Increased blood pressure, which causes an increase in the load on the blood vessels, the risk of developing hypertension, stroke;
- Complications in the work of the kidneys: the functioning of the urinary system is disrupted, which is fraught with the formation of stones;
- Eye problems such as increased intraocular pressure, cataracts;
- Violation of the water-alkaline balance: fluid retention occurs, and, consequently, edema;
- An increase in the load on the heart is especially dangerous with existing cardiac pathologies;
- Problems with blood vessels, as a result, headaches occur;
- Joint inflammation - arthritis.
With an excess of salt in the diet, heart rhythm disturbances, the development of stomach ulcers, heartburn, and convulsions are possible. If consumed uncontrolled, the product can contribute to the development of osteoporosis, especially in women.
A contraindication to the use of sea salt, as well as ordinary table salt, in some cases, may be pregnancy. During this period, its use, even within normal limits, can cause fluid retention in the body, which leads to edema. In such cases, doctors recommend reducing product use to a minimum.
Sea salt recipes
Food prepared with the use of sea salt acquires not only an exquisite taste, but also a lot of useful properties. Using in your diet only high-quality products and a natural food supplement obtained from the depths of the seas, you can make your table not only tasty, but also healthy.
Consider sea salt recipes
- Pork steak with coarse sea salt … For this dish, we take pork pulp, preferably the neck part, always with a little fat. Cut the steaks across the fibers 2 cm thick. Heat the non-stick pan. We spread pieces of meat on it and fry on both sides for two minutes, until golden brown appears. Then we reduce the heat, pour about 0.5 cups of water into the pan and cover with a lid. The meat should be braised within 10 minutes. After this time, make sure that the water has completely evaporated, pepper the pieces abundantly on both sides and sprinkle with finely chopped garlic. Add a little vegetable oil to the pan, fry the steaks again on both sides until a beautiful golden color appears. After placing the meat on a plate, sprinkle with coarse sea salt. You can serve fried green beans as a side dish.
- Peasant-style potatoes with sea salt … Take 6-7 medium sized potatoes. We cut it into slices, without peeling off the skins, after thoroughly washing it. In a separate bowl, mix 0.5 cups of sunflower oil and spices (black and red peppers, finely chopped dill, 3-4 chopped garlic cloves). Roll the potato pieces well in this mixture. Then put on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 40 minutes, turning the slices over as needed. The cooking temperature should be 180 degrees. After the potatoes are completely cooked, salt them generously with sea salt. If desired, sprinkle with fresh herbs before serving.
- Salmon baked in salt … Grease the salmon steaks with olive oil on both sides, sprinkle with lemon juice and leave to lie down for 20 minutes. Pour about 500-700 g of sea salt on a baking sheet, put the pieces of fish on it and put them in the oven for about 20 minutes. You can decorate the finished dish with herbs.
- Sun-dried vegetables with sea salt … We need: bell peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms. Cut the mushrooms lengthwise, cut the pepper lengthwise into two parts, remove the seeds and the stalk. Cut the tomatoes into about three thick slices. Lubricate vegetables with vegetable oil and a mixture of peppers. We put the grill on the wire rack and bake on hot coals for 10-15 minutes, not forgetting to turn it over from time to time. Readiness is determined by the degree of softness of vegetables and browned edges. Sprinkle the finished dish with coarse sea salt.
- Soup with seafood and sea salt … For cooking, we need: peeled boiled shrimps - 5-6 pieces (you can use preserves), chopped boiled squid fillet without skin - 100 g, peeled boiled mussels - 5-6 pieces, boiled octopus tentacles - 100 g, one ripe medium-sized tomato, 1 chili, rice noodles, about 70 g, rice vinegar - 1 tbsp. l., black peppercorns, sea salt. Pour water into a saucepan, about 1 liter, bring to a boil. Cut the tomatoes into small cubes, cut the pepper into strips. Put chopped tomatoes, 2 pinches of sea salt and chili into boiling water. Cook for 2 minutes. Then toss in the rice noodles. Cook for 3 minutes. Then we throw in the seafood and cook for another 1 minute. Then remove from heat, add peppercorns and rice vinegar. You can decorate the finished soup with herbs.
- Homemade potato chips with sea salt … We need: medium-sized potatoes, ground paprika, sea salt. Cut the potatoes thinly into slices, rinse in cold water, dry on a paper towel. Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan. Fry potatoes in batches and place on a dish with a paper towel to remove excess fat. Sprinkle the finished chips with sea salt and paprika.
There are three types of sea salt: fine, medium and coarse. The product of coarse grinding is more often used for cooking soups, baking meat and fish. Medium grind is usually used when cooking second and marinades. And the small one is used in a salt shaker to season ready-made dishes. Using sea salt instead of regular salt helps to reveal all the flavors of the food. Thanks to this quality, the fashion for it is increasing.
Salt is very hygroscopic and should be stored in a tightly closed container in a dry and dark place. Also, for better storage, you can pour a little rice cereal on the bottom of the container, it will absorb all excess moisture.
Interesting facts about sea salt
It is known that people have been mining sea salt for over four millennia. Scientists have calculated that if you extract all the salt that occurs in the seas and lakes, you can cover the planet with it with a layer of more than 40 meters.
The first miners of the product from the depths of the sea were the inhabitants of the Mediterranean countries and East Asia. In this they were promoted by a dry warm climate.
More than 6 million tons of sea salt are mined on the planet every year. Since ancient times, nature taught people the simplest method of extracting it: in shallow creeks after low tide, sediment remained in the form of a salt solution, under the influence of wind and sunlight, the water from it evaporated, and people thus obtained salt. Later, humanity learned to use various devices to increase production. Artificial pools for keeping seawater began to be created.
There are several types of sea salt:
- Hawaiian … In all countries, this kind of salt is quite highly valued. It comes in black and red. Black contains volcanic ash and red contains particles of red clay.
- Black indian … In fact, its color is not black, but pink, and it got this name because it turns black when ingested. This salt contains a lot of sulfur and tastes like an egg. Therefore, it is often used in their kitchen by vegetarians, for example, when preparing vegan omelet.
- Pink Crimean … It is mined in the sea basins in the Crimea by natural evaporation, without industrial processing. It is believed that this type of salt enhances immunity and even protects against radiation. The sea water in the Crimean garden pools is red. And all because the algae Dunaliella Salina lives in this water. She then gives the crystals a pink tint.
- White … Differs in high fragility, therefore, when using it, you can not fear for the safety of tooth enamel. The process of obtaining such a product is extremely painstaking. It is carefully removed from the surface of the water, where the salt is concentrated in the form of a solid film. At the slightest careless movement, the film breaks, and the salt settles into the water.
- Israeli … Such sea salt has the lowest sodium chloride content, therefore its other name is “dietary”.
- French … It is believed that the best sea salt is produced in France by hand. This product has a delicate taste and softness. Salt mined in the French Guérande is highly valued. Two types of it are produced here: the gray Cel-Gris and the white Fleur-de-Cel. The gray contains clay particles that give it the appropriate color, as well as the remains of saltwater algae.
- American … The salt produced in North America is considered to be the poorest in terms of the content of nutrients. There, it undergoes such a thorough purification of impurities that its composition becomes close to ordinary rock salt.
Already in ancient times, people noticed the healing properties of sea salt. They even came up with a universal medicine based on it. For this, the product was added to a vessel with brandy in a 3: 4 ratio. Such an elixir is used to this day both for external use and for internal use. To improve overall health, salty cognac should be diluted with hot water in a ratio of 1: 3 and taken on an empty stomach in the morning for 2 tablespoons.
Watch the video about sea salt:
Thus, with moderate use of sea salt, you can not only enjoy the exquisite taste of cooked dishes, but also contribute to the healing of the whole body.
