What are the 82 Minerals in Celtic Sea Salt?
|
|
Time to read 6 min
This store requires javascript to be enabled for some features to work correctly.
|
|
Time to read 6 min
Table of Content
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle, especially if you have existing health conditions.
Celtic sea salt is renowned for its rich mineral content and natural harvesting process, which preserves its many minerals. Unlike refined table salt, which is stripped of most nutrients, natural sea salts such as Celtic sea salt retains its natural minerals and trace elements, making it a valuable addition to a healthy diet. This type of salt is often praised for its potential health benefits - I use it regularly in the morning and for fasting benefits.
Alternative health care practitioners, such as Barbara O'Neil who has quoted previously that “Celtic salt has 82 minerals, it’s a hand-harvested sea salt, so the minerals in the celtic salt are in their balanced form”. Many Celtic sea salt product pages also claim that it contains 82 minerals.
In this article, I will attempt to verify this information and list all of the 82 minerals purported to be present in Celtic sea salt.
From the outset, it was very difficult to find comprehensive information about all 82 minerals in Celtic sea salt from scientific studies or other knowledge sources. Most respected news sources mainly discuss the major minerals in Celtic sea salt, which typically include sodium, chloride, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sulfate, as well as some trace minerals.
Despite extensive investigation, I was unable to find a definitive list of all the minerals in Celtic sea salt. Many proponents of Celtic sea salt, who rightly praise its health benefits, frequently mention its 82 minerals, this could be very true, but I could find only one study that examined 68 elements in Celtic sea salt (please see references and further reading).
So, I asked ChatGPT 4o to produce a list of all the minerals in this salt, and the following table is what it came up with:
Celtic sea salt contains several major minerals that are essential for various bodily functions:
Sodium (1,700–1,800 mg per 5g): Vital for fluid balance and nerve function.
Chloride (2,650–2,750 mg per 5g): Works with sodium to maintain fluid balance.
Magnesium (20–30 mg per 5g): Important for muscle and nerve function.
Calcium (5–7.5 mg per 5g): Crucial for bone health.
Potassium (2.5–5 mg per 5g): Helps regulate heart function, muscle contractions and sodium balance.
Sulfate (25–75 mg per 5g): Supports detoxification and joint health.
Dr. Eric Berg said this out about sea salt “Don't be afraid of taking salt, because we need a certain amount of sodium in the diet as sodium chloride, but not just sodium chloride but we need the whole mineral balance and that's why you should always consume sea salt”.
Dr Srinivas Janam, internal medicine specialist at DHEE Hospitals, confirms that Celtic salt is known for its broad spectrum of trace minerals, including magnesium, calcium, and potassium, which are less prevalent in table salt. “These minerals can play a role in heart health by helping to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow, potentially lowering blood pressure".
In addition to major minerals, Celtic sea salt also contains a variety of trace minerals. Some of the more eye -catching ones apparently include Gold, Silver and even Uranium. Please note uranium is a naturally occurring element found in the earth and is too low to even count.
To be honest, we have to take the information about there being 82 minerals in Celtic sea salt with a pinch of salt (no pun intended), as it was difficult to verify this information online. I even asked ChatGPT to verify the sources of this claim, but after investigating, it was still not possible to confirm the exact list of minerals.
That said, whatever the true number of minerals in Celtic sea salt, it has still been beneficial for my health. I use it regularly in the morning as it helps to balance fluids, electrolytes, and energy, and supports my intermittent fasting routine. The minerals that are present in Celtic sea salt seem to be in a natural balance .
1. Summary of the Study: "Analysis of Chemical Contents in Raw Material of Rich Minerals Sea Salt"
The study conducted by Fawait Afnani et al. aimed to analyze the chemical content of seawater used to produce rich mineral sea salt, specifically from Camplong District, Sampang Regency, Indonesia. The major minerals analysed included sodium (Na+), magnesium (Mg2+), calcium (Ca2+), potassium (K+), iron (Fe2+), chloride (Cl−), and sulfate (SO4^2−). The largest mineral content found was calcium (492.350 mg/L) and sodium (482,000 mg/L), while iron had the smallest concentration (<0.08 mg/L). The study utilised standard methods for environmental quality testing and focused on producing low sodium sea salt with high mineral content.
2. Celtic Sea Salt: More Popular than Its Pink Cousin?
Dr. Axe's article highlights the nutritional benefits of Celtic sea salt, emphasising its rich mineral content and potential health benefits over refined salt. The article compares Celtic sea salt with other salts like Himalayan pink salt and table salt, noting its higher mineral complexity and lower processing. It discusses the benefits of trace minerals in Celtic sea salt, such as improved hydration, blood pressure regulation, and support for brain and muscle function. The article also provides practical tips on using Celtic sea salt in cooking and its applications in skincare.
3. Celtic salt: Why this magnesium-rich salt is essential for the body
The Times of India article emphasises the importance of Celtic sea salt, highlighting its high magnesium content and numerous health benefits. It outlines how this natural salt helps maintain electrolyte balance, supports muscle and nerve function, and enhances overall well-being. The article contrasts Celtic sea salt with regular table salt, emphasising its unrefined nature and mineral richness, which contribute to its superior health benefits.
4. Gourmet Table Salts: The Mineral Composition Showdown
The study analysed the mineral content of 10 gourmet salts, finding high levels of beneficial minerals like iron and zinc in Persian Blue and Atlantic Grey salts, but also detecting lead levels exceeding safety limits in all samples, indicating potential health risks.
5. Authentication of Culinary Salt: Challenges and Opportunities
The study concludes that elemental composition and strontium isotope ratios can authenticate the regional origins of culinary salts and detect food fraud; Celtic sea salts have sodium chloride content ranging from 87% to 93% with significant amounts of magnesium, potassium, and calcium, while other salts like Himalayan and Flor Blanca exhibit distinct elemental profiles. A total of 68 elements analysed, (like sodium and chloride as well as trace elements like magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, etc.), noting that composition can vary significantly even within salts from the same region.
Author: Gabriel Wong Degree: Master of Science in Forensic Science University: University of California, Davis Year: 2018
Celtic sea salt retains a wide range of natural minerals, while table salt is often refined and stripped of most minerals, leaving mainly sodium chloride.
Not all 82 minerals are essential; however, many of them, such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium, play important roles in maintaining health.
Verifying all 82 minerals can be challenging due to variations in natural sources and limited scientific studies.