Salt: The essence of life

From a chemical point of view, salt consists mainly of sodium chloride, or NaCl for short. It performs various important functions in the body. For example, salt regulates the body’s water balance. Muscles – including the heart – need salt to contract, whilst the nerves require it as a building block for the transmission of nerve impulses. It is also responsible for maintaining the body’s electrolyte balance. As always, however, it is a question of getting the balance right. Whilst too much can harm the body in the long term, a deficiency is also unhealthy.

The main difference between conventional salt and sea salt lies in how they are extracted and processed. To produce sea salt, seawater is channelled into shallow basins in salt pans. The water evaporates under the influence of the sun and wind . What remains is sea salt. It is often harvested by hand and undergoes minimal further processing, such as sieving. Table salt, on the other hand, usually comes from underground salt deposits and is extracted industrially. It is then refined through a process of purification, bleaching and heating. Anti-caking agents, iodine and, in some cases, fluoride are often added.

Whether sea salt is healthier than table salt depends somewhat on how one defines ‘healthy’. This is because it is primarily the sodium chloride content that affects health. And this is just as high in sea salt as it is in table salt. However, sea salt is less processed and therefore often still contains natural minerals. Think, for example, of magnesium, calcium or potassium. Sea salt often contains no anti-caking agents or chemical additives. The coarser grain size of sea salt means that the taste experience is more intense, which is why smaller quantities are needed.

Sea salt is, of course, a local product in Croatia. There are, in fact, several salt pans in the country. You can visit most of them as part of a tour. For example, Solana Nin is located near Zadar. It is one of the oldest salt pans in Europe, where salt is still harvested using traditional methods. Here you can learn all about salt production, visit the salt pans and buy hand-harvested sea salt. On the Pelješac Peninsula, south of Dubrovnik, lies the world’s oldest saltworks: Solana Ston. It has been in operation for over 2,000 years. Smaller saltworks can be found, for example, in the area around Trogir or on the island of Pag.

Salt can make a big difference not only in the kitchen, but also beyond it. It is valued in many spa treatments and health resorts as a natural remedy for health, beauty and well-being. Sea salt can, for example, be used as a scrub. Its fine crystals gently remove dead skin cells, stimulate blood circulation and refine the skin’s texture. The magnesium and zinc it contains can soothe irritated skin. After a salt treatment, the skin feels smoother. It is also better able to absorb moisture.

Anyone who suffers from blemished skin, acne, eczema or psoriasis will have noticed for themselves that a swim in the sea can alleviate these problems. The reason lies in the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of sea salt. Salt baths relax the muscles, promote detoxification through the skin and simply let the stresses of everyday life wash away. The link between salt and health is also evident in inhalation treatments. Inhaling fine salt particles has an expectorant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. It has a positive effect on respiratory conditions, asthma and allergies.