Is it true that … natural salt is healthier than table salt?

The mineral benefit in natural salt is ‘laughable’, says our expert. Just reduce your overall salt intake – and beware how much is hiding in bread and sauces

Flaky sea salt, pink rock salt, fleur de sel … Thanks to a generation of TV chefs sprinkling gourmet seasonings on dishes with flair, it feels instinctive that these natural, premium versions of sodium chloride are somehow healthier than humble table salt.

And many of them market themselves that way – claiming that lower levels of processing and higher levels of minerals like potassium and magnesium make them the superior choice.

But Sonia Pombo, a registered nutritionist and head of research and impact at Action on Salt, disagrees. “The evidence linking a high intake of salt to raised blood pressure is very well documented,” she says. (Overconsumption is also linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer, osteoporosis and kidney problems.) “Some of these companies may try to convince the public they’re better,” she says. “But if you look at the tiny amounts of magnesium or potassium in these salts, it’s laughable. If you want micronutrients, eat a piece of fruit.”