Himalayan pink salt is one of the most popular natural ingredients in the world. Its name derives from the meaning of the mineral's hue, pink. Today it can be found in numerous cookery products, in cakes, sweets, ice cream, and deserts, as well as many cosmetics and health-food stores. Popular local dishes include chicken tikka masala (Indian chicken tikka), lamb stew with tandoori, lamb rasam, lamb kebabs with tandoori, and even desserts such as jello cake with mandarin oranges. Himalayan salt can also be found in traditional Persian soups, sweets, and confections.
Himalayan salt is crystal salt mined in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains in Pakistan. The salt, which sometimes has a soft pinkish hue due to traces of iron and magnesium minerals, is mainly used as a food seasoning and as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, cooking, bread, foraging, and other leisure activities. Although Himalayan pink salt may taste bland compared to regular table salt, its rich mineral content provides significant health benefits. The following are just some of them:
One of the best-known health benefits of this salt is its ability to lower blood pressure levels. Regular table salt contains only sodium and chloride, both of which have high sodium contents. Himalayan pink salt has trace amounts of sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which have been found to lower blood pressure by about five millimeters of mercury. Researchers have also found that people consuming this type of salt tend to have lower body temperatures than those who don't. This may explain why people in Pakistan, India, Tibet, Nepal, and other Himalayan regions have low blood pressure rates.
High levels of magnesium are a common feature among hypertensive patients. In addition to this, higher levels of potassium can help lower blood pressure and assist in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Because Himalayan pink salt contains trace amounts of calcium and potassium, it can reduce cholesterol levels. Trace amounts of iodine have been found to help prevent anemia, which is associated with hypertension. Thus, taking this salt can help prevent conditions like hyperthyroidism and thyroid diseases.
Like sodium chloride, Pink Himalayan salt contains magnesium chloride. However, unlike sodium chloride, which is used to make salt lamps, this salt does not emit harmful infrared radiation. This means that the emitted infrared radiation is in very low wavelengths that are invisible to the human eye. Thus, the emitted radiation is safe for the body but is invisible to the naked eye.
One of the main health claims associated with Himalayan pink salt is that it contains trace amounts of several important minerals that are beneficial for maintaining a healthy heart. These minerals include calcium, bromine, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, and iodine. While it is difficult to imagine any correlation between these minerals and heart health, there have been studies that have proven positive results. For instance, calcium has been linked to improved cardiovascular function. And, researchers have even linked high levels of potassium to lower incidents of hypertension and coronary artery disease.
While it is difficult to draw any definite conclusions about the mineral content of Himalayan pink salt, one thing that can be deduced is the abundance of iodine. The iodine in mined salt from Pakistan can be up to 10 times higher than naturally occurring levels. However, this increase in iodine can have negative implications as well. For instance, while increased iodine can improve the immune system, increased iodine can cause an increase in the vulnerability of young children to cancer.
There are many potential benefits associated with Himalayan pink salt. However, it is essential to remember that all of these benefits cannot be derived without consuming trace minerals. Trace minerals play an important role in the absorption process of other nutrients in our diet. For instance, it is essential for our bodies to receive the vitamins and minerals that we eat. In addition to eating healthy, it is important to supplement our diets with a quality supplement.
