Pink Himalayan Salt Pros & Cons
Himalayan pink salt, also known as pink salt or pink sea salt, is a natural salt with an ionic content of oxygen and negatively charged minerals such as sulfur and potassium. It was used by the Hindus as their standard salt for many years and then replaced by white sea salt, whose molecules are less diverse and of a different structure. Pink Himalayan salt also has a pink tint due to iron and traces of other minerals. These properties make it a very effective healing salt.
In addition to the health benefits of pink salt, it has many other beneficial qualities. Since it is so similar in composition to the regular table salt, many people tend to think it is automatically safe. However, there is always the possibility of ingesting impurities even when the minerals are below the safe level. To reduce this risk, one must use products that are specifically formulated to control or limit exposure to impurities. There are many products on the market which contain no additives at all, but just regular table salt.
The health benefits of pink salt have been recognized for hundreds of years by the Hindus. Because of this, it is widely used in Indian cuisine and is considered as an excellent alternative to regular table salt. Himalayan pink salt has a rich mineral content and is an excellent salt for increasing the daily consumption of sodium chloride. The average salt in the world is made up of 98 percent sodium chloride. This percentage is influenced by the manufacturing process and therefore, depends on where the salt is derived from.
There have been studies showing that a person can use this salt to control or reduce his mineral intake. The levels of potassium and calcium are reduced by only a small amount which is safe for daily consumption. In addition, pink salt contains calcium and magnesium, which are essential in regulating the blood pressure and preventing cardiovascular diseases.
This salt contains a large number of iron and potassium, which help in reducing the blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose level. However, it is advisable to consult a dietician or nutritionist before incorporating it into the diet. It is not clear how the anti-caking agents work and whether or not it will have a negative effect on the mineral intake. It is believed that the salt contains magnesium, sodium and iron, which have properties which may contribute to the improvement of cholesterol and blood pressure.
Irregular iodine levels are known to cause hypothyroidism and goiter. One study showed that the regular salt contains about sixty percent more iodine which is needed for the thyroid gland to produce the necessary hormones. Hypothyroidism and goiter are associated with an inadequate thyroid hormone level, which can be corrected with treatments that include synthetic thyroxine. It is important to note that pink Himalayan salt contains about fifteen percent of iodine which is much higher than that found in regular salt which is around four percent.
Since regular salt contains too much sodium, it is better to opt for pink Himalayan salt which has less sodium content. Studies show that people who opt for this salt intake have lower blood pressure and their cholesterol levels are also reduced. Their sodium intake is therefore reduced, while the required intake of sodium is not affected.
As a matter of fact, pink Himalayan salt contains about twenty percent of potassium and iodine, which is much higher than that of table salt which has about ten percent of sodium. The International Health Organization recommends that a person should consume three grams of salt per day for good health. On the other hand, doctors recommend one teaspoon of pink salt for every one thousand calories. If you follow this recommendation, then the amount of salt in your body will be decreased which helps reduce sodium intake.