Introduction: Do you need to consume imported mineral salt? Whether you need to supplement minerals depends on your physical symptoms, diet, and health check-up results. A doctor should make a comprehensive assessment and provide a recommended dosage.
Recently, the incident of "salt being banned on Taobao" brought expensive "imported salt" to light. These "high-mineral" salts, costing hundreds or even thousands of yuan per jin, are popular among netizens, who claim their ingredients are pure and unpolluted and can supplement the body with various minerals.
"Minerals are not better in larger quantities! Through a balanced diet, the minerals in food are sufficient for the human body," said Tan Rongshao, deputy director of the Nutrition Department at Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital. The edible salt we usually refer to is sodium chloride; it's merely a condiment that improves the taste of food while supplementing the body with a small amount of sodium. Since the iodine content in general food is low, many countries now add iodine to salt, mainly to prevent diseases caused by iodine deficiency.
Modern people have a strong awareness of health and wellness. Some people who feel they consume too much salt want to switch to "salt substitutes" like magnesium chloride or potassium chloride. Others want to supplement more minerals and purchase so-called "high-mineral" salts at high prices online.
In this regard, Tan Rongshao pointed out that the taste of "salt substitutes" may not be as good as sodium chloride. More importantly, do these "salt substitutes" and the mixed-bag "high-mineral" salts sold online really contain that many minerals? What is the specific content of each mineral? Do they contain toxic heavy metals such as lead and mercury...
If there are no issues with these, they can be used as substitutes for sodium chloride salt. However, if certain mineral components are excessive, or if the human body consumes too much, it may cause harm. For example, excessive calcium intake can lead to stones, while excessive potassium intake can cause edema. Most "salt substitutes" are potassium chloride, and some patients, such as those with hyperkalemia or renal insufficiency, must not consume it, as high blood potassium can be life-threatening... Furthermore, seawater is rich in toxic minerals such as arsenic, lead, and mercury, and improper processing can lead to heavy metal poisoning in the human body.
Therefore, whether you need to supplement minerals depends on your physical symptoms, diet, and health check-up results. A doctor should make a comprehensive assessment and provide a recommended dosage.