Himalayan pink salt is a salt that comes from the Himalaya Mountains in South Asia. Yes, it is pink and it is a healthier alternative to table salt. It is mined like rock salt but it is actually a sea salt.
Salt is an essential nutrient required by our body. Overuse can result in high blood pressure, increased risk of stroke and heart disease. Therefore, salt, no matter what kind should be eaten in moderation. It is for these reasons that Himalayan salt has become an alternative to table salt. It is less stressful on the body and has some extra health benefits. Let us look at these claims:
Himalayan Pink Salt
- Salt contains about 1/3 less sodium per serving than table salt (1690 mg vs 2360 mg in table salt), however this may mean the people will just use more of it to get the desired taste.
- Contains trace amounts of minerals including zinc, iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Scientist feels these amounts are so small that there is no real benefit to the consumer
- Some samples have contained trace amounts of toxic elements such as arsenic, mercury, and lead.
No matter what the type of salt there are some health benefits of consuming salt:
Improved Respiratory Health:
Salt Therapy, which is the act of inhaling air, infused with salt, is said to be beneficial for respiratory conditions. Some preliminary research supports this.
Prevention of Dehydration:
Salt is necessary for maintaining balanced hydration levels in the body. This is especially important before, during and after vigorous exercise.
Skin Care Benefits:
Some research has shown that salt (such as a salt bath) can help skin conditions such as eczema.
Health risks of eating too much of any salt include:
Kidney:
Excess salt can cause high blood pressure and increase the risk of chronic kidney disease
Heart Disease:
Eating too much salt and the resulting high blood pressure is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease.
Bone Disorders:
Too much salt increases the amount of calcium that is removed from your body. This reduction in calcium could lead to increased rick of osteoporosis and the bone disorders.
Hypernatremia:
This is causes by excess sodium levels in the body and requires medical attention immediately.
