Sea salt has exploded in popularity in supermarket and restaurant aisles alike. Some chefs prefer it for its richer, coarse texture and slightly stronger taste. Manufacturers have been using it in junk food and potato chips because it’s all natural, and now some consumers choose it for the benefits it provides, namely its high levels of magnesium and other minerals. While table salt is still used to season most foods, the sea salt on the market has taken over in a big way.

There’s good reason to prefer sea salt over table salt. The table salt on the market today almost never contains any trace of naturally occurring minerals, which means that it doesn’t provide nutritional value to us in any way. Sea salt is made from seawater that has been filtered through a filtering system, then distilled and purified. It may contain up to 90 percent salt, making it a healthier alternative than regular table salt.

Salt has a lot of benefits, but one of its most prominent contributions is the fact that it has a low sodium content. Table salt, on the other hand, often has a very high sodium content. Sodium is an important component of human blood, and without it the body can easily suffer. The average salt intake for people is in excess of two pounds per person per year. That’s quite a bit of salt…and we don’t even know how many calories we consume with it. Salt causes and aggravates heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and arthritis.

But what if you just can’t live without table salt? Perhaps, you’re a vegetarian or vegan, or maybe you just can’t afford to go without the salty taste of salt. There are alternatives, however. Salt substitutes abound. Some are better than others.

For instance, sea salt is a close substitute. Many kosher salt manufacturers include sea salt in their products. Some brands contain no sodium at all. Others use sodium-free products or other ingredients that add to the overall salt content. If you want table salt without sodium, look for sea salts.

But sea salt is not the only alternative to table salt. In recent years, many companies have launched products that actually contain less sodium than regular table salt. These products generally use alternative ingredients, and they taste better, too.

In addition to sea salts, there are also some supplements that are made specifically for people who want to lessen their sodium intake. These supplements are generally herb-based and do not contain any salt. They are considered much safer, especially when compared to regular salt. Many people find that they prefer these supplements to table salt because they are less irritating. And, they are not addictive.

It’s difficult to choose between table salt and sea salt. Most of us tend to turn to table salt whenever we want to make food taste better. But, it’s important to remember that there is a limit to what even table salt can do. And, sometimes, relying on table salt alone may be a mistake.

For instance, there are some kinds of salt that are better for you than others. Most of us probably know that sodium chloride should be avoided at all costs. As far as vegetables and fruits go, tomatoes and lean meats are fine. You don’t need to add any salt to these items. Tomatoes are great in salads, especially raw with a little bit of oil added (but not much), or in juices and smoothies.

Adding any extra salt makes tomatoes and lean meats taste bland. It is difficult to come up with foods that taste good when they are salted. You can, however, make salads taste better by using more vegetables in them. And, you can certainly enjoy salads even more when you add a little bit of salt.

The same goes for soups and stews. When you season your soups and stews with salt, the spices usually end up on the surface. The more spices used, the more the spices stick to the dishes. In salads and other meals, this can really take away from the flavor of the fruits and vegetables. Instead of using salt, try using Cayenne or other hot spices that will add a lot of flavor.

You might think that beans and Lima beans are the same thing, but they are not. While both of these are great in chili, Lima beans have a stronger flavor. So when you’re cooking stews and soups with Lima beans, you might consider using one kind of bean over the other. Sometimes you just have to experiment with different ingredients to see what works best for you. Sometimes, nothing works at all.