There’s a lot of confusion out there about the difference between refined and unrefined salt. Both come from natural sources, but refined salt is produced using a chemical refining process that removes all of its trace minerals and elements, leaving behind only sodium chloride.

Refined salts are a white, crystallized form of sodium chloride that has undergone a chemical refining process to make it more convenient for people to use in their cooking and baking. Refined salt also has a longer shelf life, since it doesn’t have any natural trace minerals and elements in it that might break down over time.

Moreover, refined salts are often filled with additives like anti-caking agents and free-flowing agents that can help keep them stable while in the pantry. In addition, they may contain iodine, which is added to prevent thyroid illnesses such as goiter.

On the other hand, unrefined salts are not processed in any way and contain all of their naturally-occurring trace minerals and elements, such as magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, copper, zinc and phosphorus. These nutrients are vital for balancing your body’s electrolytes and helping support immune health.

There are three main types of unrefined salts: Sea Salt, Himalayan Salt and Real Salt. All of these salts are extracted directly from the ocean or from deep-shaft salt mines below the Earth’s surface.