Pink Himalayan salt is a type of rock salt mined from the Punjab region of Pakistan, near the foothills of the Himalayas.
Pink Himalayan salt is the most beneficial as well as the cleanest salt available.
Rest of the other salts consists of trace minerals, such as potassium, magnesium and calcium.
This gives Himalayan salt pinkish look and also tastes different from the regular table salt.
It salt is also referred to as pink salt, Himalayan sea salt, rock salt and Himalayan crystal salt.
In this article, you will get to know everything about pink Himalayan Salt that can be beneficial for you in many ways:
History About Pink Himalayan Salt
History of pink Himalayan salt is very long back to the Earth’s creation.
Pink Himalayan salt comes from salt mines around 5,000 feet deep below the Himalayan Mountain Range.
The salt from these mines has experienced tremendous pressure over millions of years and is 99% pure.
Typically, pink Himalayan salt comes from the Salt Range, which is a hill system in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
Pink Himalayan salt gets its name from its extensive deposits of rock salt.
Usually, geologists have much interest in the Salt Range because it contains the most complete geologic sequence in the world.
The Salt Range was untouched by any person in this earth for millions of years until 1849.
Later, a guy named Dr. Warth, a British mining engineer, helped to design and construct a tunnel into the Salt Range.
Then people got to know about the salt. Even today, dozens of people in this world use his way of mining.
Engineers use his technique to remove half of salt while the other half is left behind as structural support of the mine.
How is Pink Himalayan Salt used?
Often people use pink Himalayan salt and common table salt in the same way.
They use it as part of cooking seasonal meals and also to preserve food.
Not only that, people also use blocks of the salt for various purposes.
The purposes includes serving dishes, cooking surfaces, and cutting boards for various dishes.
Some people also use the salt in place of bath salts. It is also used for making lamps and candle-holders.
Why is Pink Himalayan Salt Better than Table Salt?
Usually, the regular table salt that we consume is heavily processed, eliminating its minerals.
These type of salt typically contains 98% sodium chloride compared to the pink Himalayan salt which contains 87% of it.
Most of the table salts contains only one mineral i.e. sodium and some added iodine. Some on them are also considered as health-hazardous and anti-clumping agent.
Many table salts undergo a bleaching process and contain aluminum derivatives and other terrible ingredients toxic to human health.
Unlike, pink Himalayan Salt is far more balanced and healthy choice compared to common table salt.
It contains over 84 minerals and trace elements, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, and iron making food taste lot more better than the regular salts.
High-quality salt is one of the purest salts mined by hand that anyone can ever find.
It is very different from the regular table salt that involves great deal of unusual meddling.
When used in moderation, it can be a healthy addition to diet.
Not only that, it can make so many meals that much tastier while also providing a boost of key nutrients.
Benefits of Pink Himalayan Salt
Improves Respiratory Problems
Salt is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, loosen excessive mucus and speeds up mucus clearance.
It also removes pathogens in the air like pollen, and decreases immune system oversensitivity level.
There are salt caves made of Himalayan salt all over the world which people consume as considered beneficial for health, especially respiratory problems suggested by doctors.
Balances Body’s pH
It’s rich mineral content can help in balancing body’s pH levels for sure.
Having a high pH level makes a huge difference in the overall health as it has a healthy acid-to-alkaline ratio.
It helps to proper the pH levels as a result fostering immunity and encouraging good digestion.
Since the salt contains sodium as well as other electrolytes, it has a direct effect on the pH level.
Natural Digestive Aid
It can be used for making your own sole, a saturated solution containing purified water and Himalayan salt.
Sole is very similar to salt water flush which helps in obtaining many health benefits, especially digesting the aid.
According to Dr. Mark Sircus, an acupuncturist and doctor of oriental and pastoral medicine, a dose of sole each day can help the digestive system better.
Daily consuming of mixture of pink Himalayan salt and water stimulates the peristalsis of the digestive organs.
Not only that, it also helps in balancing the stomach aid, support the production of digestive fluids in the liver and pancreas and regulate the metabolism.
Air Purifier
As mentioned above, Himalayan salt can create a candle-holder or a lamp as well.
One of the main benefits of pink Himalayan salt is that it has the ability to clean and freshen the air.
By its inherent nature as a salt, the lamp attracts water vapor to it as well as air pollutants.
Later, the water vapor evaporates due to the lamp’s heat and the dust remains in the salt instead of getting into the body.
Better Sleep Inducer
Himalayan Salt helps to encourage better, more restful sleep due to its high mineral content.
Eating enough amount of salt in diet daily is actually key to a good night’s rest as a natural sleep aid.
According to Dr. Michael V. Vitiello, the director of the Sleep and Aging Research Program “low levels of sodium in the blood causes blood volume to decrease and nervous system more active, making people wake up more often.”
Hence, due to proper amount of sodium compared to other common table salt, it persuades better sleep.
Additional Heath Benefits of Pink Himalayan Salt are:
- Regulation of the water levels with the body for overall functioning.
- Reducing common signs of aging
- Reducing cramping
- Improving the absorption of nutrients from food
- Improving bone strength
- Providing circulatory support
- Encouraging healthy blood sugar levels
- Aiding vascular health
Risk and Considerations
Less Iodine
Iodine is a mineral that the body needs for maintaining proper thyroid function and cell metabolism.
Unlike every other salt, pink Himalayan salt contains less iodine. Therefore, the major risk of consuming pink Himalayan salt can be iodine deficiency.
Hence, having other supplementary such as fish, sea vegetables, dairy and eggs can be great source of iodine.
Sodium Intake
Although sodium is necessary for preserving life, it is important to monitor the intake of any type of salt.
This risk not only occurs for the salt but for every other salt present in the market as it contains sodium.
People having issued with kidney, heart or liver should monitor their sodium intake and limit their used of salt, including pink Himalayan salt.
The 2015 to 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended that people eat less than 2,300 mg of sodium daily.
For those having high blood pressure should limit sodium intake to 1500 mg per day.
When people take in more sodium or salt than they heneed including pink Himalayan salt, their kidney try to remove the excess through urine.
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If they are not able to remove it through the kidneys, it begins to build up fluids between cells, causing serious health issues.
Precautions
Salts are always supposed to be stored in an airtight, covered container in a cool dry place.
If you want to consume pink Himalayan Salt, make sure the salt comes for Pakistan, which is only the true source of Himalayan salt.
Also, stay away from getting fooled by the fake Himalayan Salt, which is usually sold at cheaper price.
This may be a sign that the salt was collected from higher elevations rather than from the pure mines.
These types of salt are more likely to contain impurities and chemical which is toxic for health.
The Bottom Line
At present, there is no scientific evidence to show that pink Himalayan salt provides more health benefits than the regular salt.
Nonetheless, if you would like to avoid the additives in regular table salt, pink Himalayan salt is great for it.
Remember, regular table salt contains more amount of iodine that pink Himalayan salt.
Hence, if you are consuming pink Himalayan salt, better have other supplementary food containing proper amount of iodine.
The food may be seaweed, dairy products and fish to help avoid iodine deficiency.
Also remember that pink Himalayan salt is much more expensive than regular salt.
So, the best way is to enjoy both the regular table salt and pink Himalayan salt in moderate amount.
