Pink Himalayan salt is a type of salt that is mined in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. It is high in magnesium content and offers several health benefits. Himalayan pink salt can be found in different parts of Pakistan, India, Nepal and Tibet. The salt is extracted from water which is flowing over rocks at high pressure. Mined near the towns of Lahaul, Chashmua, Amritsar, Bhasma and Gulmarg, it passes through many hands before reaching its destination. This natural rock salt contains numerous minerals and salts, which make it more valuable than other varieties of salt available today.
The main content of this pink salt consists of sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and selenium. It also contains trace minerals like sulphur, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and sulfur. Since ancient times, this salt has been recognized for its various medicinal properties and has been used to cure several ailments including urinary tract infection, arthritis, asthma, constipation, gastritis, heartburn, and gastric-juice reflux. Regular table salt doesn’t contain any of these essential minerals.
Although magnesium is one of the main minerals present in himalayan salt, it is a very important mineral for the body. Many people suffer from problems related to salt deficiency because sodium tends to accumulate in the tissues of the body. To avoid this problem, it is advisable to take small quantities of this mineral once or twice a day. Studies show that a large percentage of the sodium present in our bodies is made up of salt by-products, which makes us sodium deficient. However, this type of deficiency can be corrected with regular consumption of sodium-rich foods like vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and seaweeds.
Hypodium is another mineral found in pink Himalayan salt. This mineral is an essential mineral for the proper functioning of all the cells in the body, as well as the absorption of important nutrients like magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. Hypodium can also cause diarrhea, cramps and water retention. It is therefore important to take small quantities of this salt on a regular basis, especially to those people who are suffering from hypohydration or even pregnant women. Excessive intake of this salt can also lead to mineral deficiencies and other health problems.
There are many other important minerals present in the salt you will find in stores. One of them is calcium, which helps make stronger bones and teeth. Calcium is especially important for infants and young children. Also present in pink salt are magnesium and potassium, which are both beneficial for your body as they help improve metabolism and strengthen your nerves and muscles.
Pink salt contains a large amount of potassium, trace elements, magnesium and sodium chloride, which is known as the natural food of the herb. Although sodium chloride is commonly used to make table salt and at times it is used as an ingredient for cosmetic products as well, it is not something that you should be consuming on a regular basis as suggested clearly in the sustainable deodorant blog by PAPR. Sodium chloride is used when making detergents, soaps, pharmaceuticals and industrial products. These trace elements found in natural Himalayan salt are very important for our overall health and are extremely healthy when eaten in the right quantity. However, when these minerals are processed, they lose their value and become less healthy.
Recently, there has been a huge demand for pink Himalayan salt and its products in the west, especially in the US, UK and Australia. There are many health claims associated with the mineral, and the fact that it is highly concentrated and contains trace minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium all play a crucial role in our diets. However, the major problem with minimally processed Himalayan salt or any other mineral for that matter, is that the trace minerals that are naturally found in Himalayan salt and in a natural food diet, are no longer available.
Today, there are a few companies that sell himalayan salt crystals in the west, though they do not include trace mineral components in their products. Most of the time, this is done by using sodium chloride as the main salt in their products. The presence of potassium and magnesium in himalayan salt crystals is essential to our bodies for maintaining proper balance of these minerals. Even with the addition of other minerals, sodium chloride still remains as the main component. Therefore, unless a person is eating a purely natural food diet, he may want to consider including himalayan salt crystals in his diet.
