Himalayan Pink Salt Benefits | Myths & Actual Benefits

Pink salt gets taken out from the Khewra mines near the Himalayas of Pakistan. Himalayan pink salt has several health benefits due to the presence of 84 trace elements in it.

It crystallized when the Tethys sea dried up 600 million years ago. Being covered by rock and snow for several years, it remained unpolluted. Also, miners extract it by hand and don’t include additives to it.

Both these facts make it the purest of all salts. Ayurvedic medicine has been using it for centuries to cure health problems.

HIMALAYAN PINK SALT BENEFITS VS MYTHS

To clarify misconceptions about Himalayan pink salt, let’s have a look at its benefits.

1. Has a range of minerals

Almost 98% of pink salt comprises sodium chloride. The remaining composition consists of 84 macro and trace minerals. Major macro minerals in pink salt are calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulfate, and phosphorus.

One gram of pink salt has 2.8 mg of potassium and 1.6 mg of calcium. Both these make less than 1% of pink salt. Yet, it outnumbers table salt.

Other common trace minerals include iron, copper, manganese, and iodine. The presence of iron oxide gives the salt its pink hue.

Most of these minerals are essential for good health. Although they’re present in a small amount, they do add value to this salt.

Check out this article to find out the list of minerals found in Himalayan pink salt.

2. Improves digestion

The chloride mineral in pink salt releases hydrochloric acid into the stomach. It helps in breaking down the food and improves digestion.

It combats the loss of hunger by stimulating appetite. It helps in lowering gastric issues like constipation, bloating, bacterial infections, and vomiting. It also accelerates digestion, which results in fat loss.

Also, sodium chloride increases the ability of the intestinal tract to absorb nutrients. Better nutrient absorption ensures the better performance of body organs.

Pink salt aids the liver in processing the absorbed nutrients too.

3. Controls blood pressure

The consumption of Sodium is the meat and potato of altering the blood pressure level. High sodium intake is directly associated with high blood pressure.

The US dietary guidelines approved the consumption of 2,300 mg of sodium per day as safe.

A teaspoon of table salt contains 2360 mg of (Na) sodium. Comparatively, a teaspoon of pink salt contains 1680 mg of (Na) sodium.

Coarse salt grains contain a bit lower amount of sodium per teaspoon serving.

Himalayan pink salt is a better option to go for as it contains less sodium than regular salt. It’s also saltier than table salt which leads to decreased consumption. That’s how pink salt helps in controlling blood pressure.

Patients with hypertension need to take care of their sodium intake. Their daily consumption of pink salt shouldn’t exceed 2.3 grams.

4. Maintains the pH

The human body needs a balance in the pH level, which determines its acidity or alkalinity. Certain foods can make the pH level more acidic if it goes below 7.

The human body has a standard pH level of 7.4. Sole water made from Himalayan pink salt has different advantages.

Pink salt increases the alkalinity of the sole water to the pH level of 8. As a result, the build-up of toxins in the body gets released through the help of the kidneys.

The body comes into a state of healthy pH and becomes detoxified.

5. Manages blood sugar level

It’s recommendable for a diabetic patient to limit sodium consumption to 2,300 mg. It maintains the blood pressure, which leads to controlled blood sugar levels.

Also, pink salt has minerals like magnesium, manganese, chromium, and vanadium. They manage blood sugar levels.

They help in the digestion of carbohydrates to glucose. They also play a role in regulating the stimulation of insulin and glucose.

6. Relieves muscle cramps

The imbalances of salt and electrolytes cause muscle cramps. Especially potassium electrolyte balance is necessary to avoid that.

Other electrolytes present in pink salt are magnesium and calcium. They also help reduce the cramping of muscles. Also, the presence of sodium can keep the body hydrated.

Only a reduction of 2% water in the body can lead to muscle cramping. Pink salt is beneficial after a workout to replenish body water content.

7. Relieves sore throat

It has always been a traditional remedy for a sore throat to gargle with salt water.

Gargling with pink saltwater alleviates sore throat. It does so by soothing the pain, killing the allergens, and detaching the mucus.

Not only that, but it also helps in relieving ailments like cold and flu.

Pink saltwater also ensures all-around oral health. It destroys bacteria around the teeth and restricts plaque formation.

8. Strengthens bones

Using sodium in high amounts can lead to weak bones. Table salt can wash away the calcium from bones.

But, pink salt has calcium and magnesium. Both these build up the connective tissue of bones.

As a result, bones become denser. Pink salt also lowers the risk of osteoporosis.

9. Boosts sleep

Low levels of sodium can lead to a reduction in blood volume. According to a study, the consumption of sodium less than 500 mg can lead to irregular sleep.

It puts the body in flight or fight mode due to adrenaline activation. Pink salt has an adequate amount of sodium that supplements the required amount of it.

Himalayan salt reduces stress and stimulates the sleep hormone melatonin. It helps in making sleep better.

10. Prevents hyponatremia

Hyponatremia develops when the body has inadequate sodium. This condition is harmful to health.

Sodium concentration below 136 milliequivalents per liter is equal to its deficiency. It leads to mental issues like confusion, unsteadiness, convulsions, and seizures.

It can also result in coma and death. The consumption of pink salt can hold the levels of sodium in check.