THE VARIOUS TYPES OF SALTFrom a low-sodium one for kidney patients to the pungent-smelling one used as a digestive aid, this condiment has many variants

SALT TYPE

Sendha namak/ rock salt

Kala namak/ black salt

Iodized salt/ table salt

Sea salt

LoNa

SODIUM LEVEL

Low

High

High

Low

Low

TEXTURE AND FEATURES

Sendha namak or Lahori namak is a type of rock salt which has a greyish hue because it is unrefined. It is low in sodium and has hints of potassium, magnesium and calcium.

It is a pungent-smelling version, composed largely of sodium chloride, trace impurities of sodium sulphate, iron sulphide and hydrogen sulphide, lending the salt its colour and smell. It is either a type of natural volcanic mineral or is man-made.

This is is a refined version, which contains 97-99% of sodium chloride. In India, it’s mandatory to put iodine in all packaged salts meant for consumption.

Coarser in texture, sea salt is composed of ions including chloride, sodium, sulfate, magnesium and potassium. Specially created with low sodium for patients facing kidney and heart problems.

EXPERT SPEAK

A study in 2009 by a team of scientists from the department of physics, Allahabad University, found this best suited for patients suffering from any form of kidney disorder because of its low-sodium, low-potassium and high-calcium content.

Kala namak has a high level of sodium, which is bad for everyday use, according to Taru Agarwal, nutritionist, Nutri-Health Systems, Mumbai. In Ayurveda, small amounts are used as a laxative and digestive aid.

“Since this salt has higher concentration of sodium chloride (NaCl), it provides higher amount of sodium to the body in the same amount, making it a bad option for daily use,” says Vijaya Venkat, founder and director of the Health Awareness Centre in Mumbai.

Natural salt is preferred to chemical compositions, according to Venkat.

Since it’s high in potassium, which might make the muscles weak in the long run, and affects the kidneys too, you should “have it only if your doctor prescribes it”, says Ramesh Hotchandani

L

H

L

H

L

H

L

H

L

H