I’ve been lucky enough to be blessed with hereditary low blood pressure, so salting my food has always been a safe indulgence. But there are no more salt shakers with bland table salt left in my kitchen! I only use pure sea salt, either just as it is or, better yet, infused with herbs and other natural flavors.

Pure sea salt generally comes in coarse crystals, giving a delicious mineral crunch when sprinkled over foods. Unlike ordinary table salt, pure sea salt has a delicate, nuanced flavor and contains all the trace minerals found in nutrient-rich ocean water.

For pure, coarse sea salt, try Celtic Sea Salt, which is harvested from the coast of France, or for herbal infusions shop around at Saltistry. One of my favorites, from when I lived in Hawaii, is traditional ‘Alaea salt, which is infused with red, iron-rich clay from the oceanside cliffs.

Image: Whole Foods