SaltWorks Contends that Salt Can be Good for People
Natural sea salt, which is simply evaporated sea water, contains no additives and is not chemically processed. When evaporated by the warmth of the sun, natural sea salt retains all of its naturally occurring minerals.
07/09/06 While in recent years salt has been condemned as a health hazard on par with cholesterol, trans fats and even tobacco, one gourmet sea salt company is taking the anti-salt hype with -- what else -- a grain of salt. Mark Zoske, founder of SaltWorks, Inc., contends that salt can be good for people, as long as it's not stripped of its natural mineral content.
Of course, Zoske is not referring to bleached white table salt or the high levels of sodium in processed foods. Instead, he points to natural, living sea salt as a source of essential nutrients when used as a finishing touch on foods.
"Whole sea salts contain trace minerals that are beneficial to your health. In fact, you can't live without salt," explained Zoske. "Sodium is the main component of the body's extracellular fluids, and it helps carry nutrients into the cells. Sodium also helps regulate other body functions, such as blood pressure and fluid volume, and sodium works on the lining of blood vessels to keep the pressure balance normal."
But don't go pouring an umbrella-full of salt on tonight's dinner. Zoske stresses that consumers should reduce the amount of salt they use while increasing the quality.
"That is the key to healthy salt. If you put gourmet salt on the outside of your food after it is cooked, then you won't use nearly as much, but you'll still get all the flavor," said Zoske. "That is the beauty of finishing salts. Finishing salts are sprinkled on a dish after it is cooked. This can be done in the kitchen or at the table, allowing each person to taste the food and then season accordingly with natural sea salt."
Natural sea salt, which is simply evaporated sea water, contains no additives and is not chemically processed. When evaporated by the warmth of the sun, natural sea salt retains all of its naturally occurring minerals. As a result, each of the 30-plus varieties of sea salt SaltWorks carries has a unique color, mineral makeup, density, crystalline structure and flavor.
"Many think of salt as a basic table seasoning, but nothing could be farther from the truth," said Zoske. "Whereas average table salt can add a predictable tang to a meal, SaltWorks premium natural sea salt can transform the taste of a dish, conjuring up subtle flavors and bold connotations -- all while providing minerals essential to the healthy function of the human body."
