Himalayan Pink Salt | The Truth

Okay so we have all heard the hype on Himalayan salt, we have picked it up in our local supermarket and used it to season our food but do you know why? Why have we abandoned regular table salt/sea salt and swapped it for the pink Himalayan variety? I asked a dozen friends why they use it, and not one of them could give me a good reason apart from 'its good for you'. It got me thinking we all know what we should be eating but how many of us actually know the health benefits of eating superfoods and why they are so good for us. Maybe it's just me but when I know the health benefits of a food, I want to eat more of it and incorporate into my daily diet to reap the benefits and to feel my best. After all our bodies are first and permanent home.

Why is Himalayan salt superior to regular table & sea salt?

Whilst I grew up using table salt to season my food, as I am sure many of us did, the reason for boycotting regular table salt is due to it being heavily processed. It is stripped of the majority of its minerals, bleached and cleaned with chemicals before a synthetic iodine is added and treated with anti-caking agents to prevent the salt from clumping and dissolving in water. It is almost pure sodium chloride with added chemicals. The salt cannot be dissolved into our bodies leading to a build up and deposit within the organs. For every gram of table salt consumed, the body uses 20x the amount to neutralize the amount of sodium chloride.

Doesn’t sound too healthy right? Well its not, it is so heavily processed it can cause severe health problems. The process of our bodies draining water can lead to arthritis, gout, kidney and gall bladder stones and cellulite. Copious amounts of salt are hidden in processed foods, ready meals etc, which is why it is so important to have a diet rich in whole, organic foods and prepare homemade meals. This way we know exactly what we are eating and how much salt is being sprinkled on our food.

Although sea salt is a better option than regular table salt, most sea salt's are now becoming increasingly processed (the less processed = healthier). As our seas and oceans become more polluted year after year if your wanting the purest salt available today, Himalayan salt is your answer or a non processed sea salt (check the label before buying).

Himalayan salt

Himalayan salt also referred to as pink salt is harvested at the foot of the Himalaya's in a rock salt mine in Pakistan. It contains 84 natural elements and minerals earning it the nickname 'white gold' in its region of origin. Minerals include calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and chloride. It is considered the healthiest of salts because no chemicals or additives are added. It is not a burden on our bodies to break down like table salt and is easily metabolised. As with all salt, it is high in sodium, so use in moderation to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. A healthy aim is 6g of salt a day (1tsp), including that added to processed foods.

All the below health benefits are reported from natural Himalayan salt.

Possible health benefits

1) Suffer from migraines? Drinking a glass of lemon juice (freshly squeezed lemon and purified water) with a high concentration of Himalayan salt is one remedy worth trying to get over a migraine.

2) Improves digestion | The salt is a natural digestive aid to reap the benefits mix 1 tsp of Himalayan salt into a glass of filtered water and consume in the morning on an empty stomach. Daily use is reported to balance the stomach acid, regulate the metabolism and harmonise the acid-alkaline balance. A healthy pH encourages good digestion and immunity.

3) Helps the body detoxify | Encourages healthy blood sugar levels therefore not causing your blood sugar to spike. It also regulates water levels in your body thus aiding detoxification.

4) Promotes sleep | Due to its high mineral content, Himalayan salt is reported to encourage a more restful sleep and healthier sleeping patterns.

5) Healthiwe skin, hair & nails | Natural Himalayan salt is reported to reduce the appearance of aging and healthier skin, hair & nails due to the high content of natural minerals.

Conclusion

The rules to eating a healthy diet are pretty simple, eat whole, organic foods in their natural state and avoid processed foods, packed with chemicals, salt and refined sugar. Himalayan salt is the least processed when compared to table salt and most sea salts. If purchasing a sea salt, make sure its premium as more and more are becoming processed. Avoid buying Himalayan salt at too low a price, as it may be collected from higher elevations rather than the pure salt mines thus less health benefits.

I hope you have found this post helpful, and if you want the low down on any other food myths, send me an email – lisapenny.blog@gmail.com, I am always looking for inspiration for a new post.

L.P x