Refined Salt vs. Unrefined Salt

Most people assume “salt is salt.” In reality, refined table salt and unrefined natural salt differ dramatically in composition, processing, and effects on the body. At our clinic, we emphasize whole-food nutrition and mineral balance. Choosing the right salt supports hydration, electrolyte function, pH balance, and overall wellness while the wrong choice can contribute to deficiencies and chronic issues.

What Is Refined Salt?

Refined (table) salt is heavily processed sodium-chloride, typically 99.7–99.95% pure. The refining process strips away nearly all trace minerals, which are sold as industrial “impurities.” The result is a devitalized, lifeless product with no nutritional value beyond sodium and chloride.

What Is Unrefined Salt?

Unrefined salt is harvested naturally with minimal human intervention. It retains the full spectrum of minerals and trace elements present in its source, whether from ancient underground deposits or evaporated seawater.

Examples include Sea Salt (Celtic Sea Salt®), Himalayan Pink Salt, and Redmond Real Salt®. These contain 60–84 naturally occurring minerals, including magnesium, potassium, calcium, sulfur, and trace amounts of iodine. These nutrients are essential for nerve function, muscle relaxation, hormone production, and acid-base balance.

How Refined Salt Is Produced

1. Brine (concentrated saltwater) is pumped from underground mines or evaporated ponds.

2. Brine is chemically treated (often with sulfuric acid or chlorine) to remove “impurities” (valuable minerals).

3. Water from the brine is evaporated under high heat and pressure (disrupting molecular structure) then dried in fluidized-bed dryers.

4. Anti-caking agents (sodium ferrocyanide, aluminum silicate, ammonium citrate) and stabilizers (dextrose) are added for flow and shelf life.

5. Iodine is added to prevent goiter (though often in poorly absorbed inorganic form).

This creates a uniform, bright-white product with indefinite shelf life, but at the cost of its natural mineral matrix.

Why Salt Is Refined

Manufacturers refine salt for four main reasons:

1. Extended shelf life - Removing moisture and minerals creates a “lifeless” product that never spoils, maximizing profit.

2. Aesthetic appeal - Pure white color appears “cleaner” to consumers. Bleaching achieves this.

3. Toxicity removal - Refining eliminates contaminants from polluted sources.

4. Iodine fortification - Added to prevent goiter, though natural sources provide better, organic iodine.

Unrefined Salt Harvesting Methods

Celtic Sea Salt:

1. Ocean water flows into clay-lined ponds on the northwest coast of France.

2. Sun and wind evaporate the water, concentrating mineral-rich brine.

3. Farmers use wooden tools to harvest grey, moist crystals, identical to methods used by ancient Celts over 2,000 years ago.

Himalayan Pink Salt:

1. Mined from ancient seabeds in Pakistan’s Himalayan foothills.

2. No refining occurs, preserving iron (pink hue), magnesium, potassium, and more.

Redmond Real Salt:

1. Extracted from ancient deposits in Utah.

2. Minimally processed to retain broad mineral content.

These gentle processes deliver salt in its whole, bioavailable form containing over 80 trace minerals (including potassium, calcium, and magnesium) supplying the full complement of elements our bodies evolved to use alongside sodium.

The pH Factor: Why Minerals Matter

The body strives to maintain blood pH near 7.2 (neutral). Enzymes, immune cells, hormones, and organs function optimally only in this narrow range. Acidic pH (<7.0) is linked to chronic illness such as cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, Candida (yeast), hormonal imbalance, and fatigue.

Refined salt lacks buffering minerals and is acid-forming. Unrefined salt, rich in alkalizing minerals (magnesium, potassium, calcium), helps neutralize acidity. In a simple home test, 1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt in ½ cup water raises pH from 6.4 to 6.8–7.0, while the same amount of refined salt drops it to 6.0.

Modern diets (high in refined sugar, flour, oils, and processed foods) are mineral-poor and acidifying. Replacing refined salt with unrefined helps restore balance.

Iodine: Do You Need Iodized Salt?

Iodine is critical for thyroid hormone production, energy, brain development, metabolism, carbohydrate digestion, and reproductive health (especially in women during puberty, pregnancy, menopause, or stress). The thyroid, ovaries, and uterus concentrate most of the body’s iodine.

Iodized refined salt may have enough iodine to prevent thyroid goiters, but it as well as unrefined salt does not have enough to prevent thyroid illnesses or to provide for the body's iodine needs. We will cover this misconception in another article in the future about the thyroid and iodine.

Health Consequences of Refined vs. Unrefined Salt

Refined salt delivers isolated sodium without its natural mineral partners, leading to:

• Mineral deficiencies (magnesium, potassium)

• Increased acidity

• Poor immune function

• Accelerated chronic illness

• Fluid retention and metabolic strain

Unrefined salt supports:

• Electrolyte balance and hydration

• Neutral pH

• Muscle/nerve function

• Hormone production

• Overall vitality

In practice, patients who switch to unrefined salt often report better energy, reduced cravings, and improved lab markers when combined with mineral-rich foods.

Summary

Refined salt is a processed, nutrient-stripped product with no place in a health-focused diet. Unrefined salt is a whole-food source of sodium balanced with dozens of trace minerals our bodies recognize and utilize. Switching to quality unrefined salt supports mineral status, pH balance, thyroid function, and long-term wellness.

At Jones Chiropractic & Functional Medicine, we see the difference in patient outcomes when nutrient-dense choices replace devitalized ones. In the next article, continue reading more about the Problems of a Low-Salt Diet.

Disclaimer: The content presented on this website serves educational and informational purposes and is not meant to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your doctor for any inquiries concerning medical conditions. Do not disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice based on information obtained from this website.