Does Kosher Salt Have Less Sodium?

Table salt comes in many varieties, including kosher, sea and regular granulated salts, but all have similar effects on your blood pressure. The sodium element in sodium chloride -- the main ingredient in any table salt -- does not change with different salt-processing methods. Taste and sodium concentrations of different types of salt may differ, but a standard amount of the sodium mineral affects your body's fluid balance consistently as a natural function of your metabolism.

A scoop of kosher salt on wood. (Image: vikif/iStock/Getty Images)

Kosher Versus Regular Salt

Due the shape and size of its grains, kosher salt may have more or less sodium per teaspoon than other kinds of table salt. The commercial processing, however, does not reduce or remove sodium content. Kosher salt has flattened, larger crystals that produce flakes rather than granules. It is sold in different grind sizes, generally coarse and medium. These qualities affect how much salt will fit into a standard teaspoon; and the crystal density, which is generally lower than that of regular granulated salt, makes its mineral content lower. As the Salt Institute relates, 1 teaspoon of regular granulated salt contains 2,400 milligrams of sodium. If you grind kosher salt more finely, the sodium content in milligrams might be higher than that; if it's more coarsely ground, it might be lower.

Actual Sodium Content

A milligram of sodium in either form, no matter the actual volume of salt, affects blood pressure. To find out how many milligrams a suggested 1/4-teaspoon serving of kosher salt contains, check the nutrition facts label on the package of the brand you want to buy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires disclosure of certain nutrient contents, including sodium, on commercial foods.

Taste Difference

You might be able to lower your sodium intake without missing the salty flavor by swapping kosher for regular salt. If you buy a coarse grind of kosher salt that has less than 2,400 milligrams of sodium per teaspoon, a 1/4-teaspoon serving will reduce your sodium intake in milligrams to below that in 1/4 teaspoon of regular granular salt. The shape of kosher salt flakes may make them taste saltier on your tongue because of their greater surface area.

Using Less Salt

Using kosher salt to cut back on sodium can improve your blood pressure and prevent heart disease. Using the sodium content information on the label, monitor your intake to keep it below 2,300 milligrams per day, as recommended for better health by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.