No medical evidence to suggest Celtic salt can reduce high blood pressure

By: Soham Shah
July 6 2023

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Context

In a viral Facebook video, Australian naturopath Barbara O'Neill claims that switching to Celtic salt can help combat high blood pressure. She also claims that table salt is "dangerous" and increases blood pressure, but Celtic salt— a sea salt harvested in France—does not raise blood pressure as it contains "82 minerals."

O'Neill is well-known for spreading misinformation on health issues. However, her unsubstantiated claims about the benefits of Celtic salt on blood pressure have been shared by several users. A post with the video shared from a verified Facebook account had garnered more than 11,200 likes at the time of publishing. 

In Fact

Celtic salt is a sea salt harvested through a process "in which clay basins are set underwater in the Atlantic Ocean," according to food and lifestyle website Tasting Table. While many believe sea salts are healthier than table salt, there is not enough scientific evidence to support such claims. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sodium— a major salt component—increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and premature death when consumed in excess. The health body also says that massive efforts are needed to reduce salt intake around the world. 

The level of sodium is similar in fine-grain table salt and fine-grain sea salt, according to the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that Celtic salt contains 32,000 milligrams (mg) of sodium per 100 grams (g). To put things in perspective, Tata Iodised Salt, a table salt brand sold in India and the U.K., contains 38,000 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Dr. Maulik Patel of Divine Life Hospital, Gujarat, told Logically Facts that many factors affect blood pressure, and the small difference in sodium level of Celtic salt and table salt alone cannot be claimed to be beneficial. He said switching from table salt to Celtic salt alone cannot help with high blood pressure. He added, "Claims of Celtic salt being beneficial are based on anecdotes, and there is no evidence to back this claim. The amount of salt being consumed matters, not the kind of salt. When consumed in excess, all salts are harmful to health."

The American Heart Association (AHA) also maintains, "Most sea salts don't offer any real health advantages. The minute amounts of trace minerals found in sea salt are easily obtained from other healthy foods." The AHA further says that unlike table salt (to which iodine is artificially added), sea salt does not contain added iodine which is essential to preventing conditions like goiter. Additionally, AHA says that with 40 percent sodium, kosher salt and sea salt are the same as table salt in composition and contribute the same towards total sodium consumption.

Moreover, a study published in the scientific journal Environmental Science and Technology found that unrefined sea salts contain microplastics. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the impurities in sea salts can contain metals like lead.

Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a cardiologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York had told NBC News, "Salt is salt is salt, whether it's pink or white or in tiny crystals or large flakes — it's not good for us, and sea salt is no more healthy than table salt in terms of its effect on blood pressure and heart health."

It is also important to note that O'Neill, who has made dubious claims about Celtic salt, was banned from providing any health advice in Australia for making false claims about cancer, vaccinations, antibiotics, and infant breastfeeding. Logically Facts has debunked several claims made by O'Neill in the past.

The Verdict

We mark this claim as false as the evidence does not support that replacing table salt with Celtic or sea salt can help lower blood pressure.