Himalayan salt is rock salt that has been mined in the Khewra Salt Mine, which is located in Pakistan and is near the Himalayas. The salt itself has a chemical composition of mostly sodium chloride with small traces of other minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. Accordingly, Himalayan salt can be used in the kitchen as a great table salt substitute and can also be used as a bath salt for your skin.
Possible Benefits of Consuming and Using Himalayan Salt
Offering a Nutrient-Rich Pick
Himalayan salt is praised for its nutritional content because of all the essential minerals it contains. This naturally-occurring option does not have any chemical or artificial additives and is considered by many a healthy substitute for other salts. Although minerals like iron, magnesium, calcium and potassium can be commonly found in a lot of food products, Himalayan salt can additionally offer access to some harder-to-come-by options like boron, zinc, selenium and copper.
Regulating Cardiovascular Functions
As the mineral form of sodium chloride, rock salt provides your body with the sodium it needs in order to regulate blood volume, blood pressure and even the transmission of nerve impulses. Sodium is an essential nutrient that our bodies physiologically require access to. Individuals who actually suffer from hyponatremia, a low sodium concentration in the blood, may ultimately suffer from a variety of ailments including congestive heart failure, liver failure and kidney failure.
However, the average individual is rarely in danger of not consuming enough sodium on a daily basis. For most of us, adding Himalayan salt into our diet is probably not that helpful unless we eliminate some of the other sources of salt that we’re already consuming.
Providing a Detoxifying Skin Care Treatment
When added to bath water, Himalayan salt may be able to help draw toxins out of your body while giving your skin access to needed minerals for your body’s absorption. Since what you put on your skin can end up in your bloodstream, you want to be careful about not overdoing the salt bath by adding too much salt or by taking that kind of bath too frequently. The South Asian salt can also be added to body and face scrubs to help exfoliate your skin.
Working as a Key Component in a Homemade Oral Rehydration Solution
The sports industry offers a wide variety of workout and post-workout beverages like Gatorade, which is specially designed to replenish your electrolytes by combining salt, sugar and water. The hydrating drink comes at a premium when purchased in ready-to-go bottles, but you can actually make your own oral rehydration solution at home based on any number of widely-available recipes online. When making your own batch, you can use the mineral-rich Himalayan salt to increase the drink’s nutrient value.
This type of beverage is perfect for when you’ve intensely worked out and have lost water and electrolytes through sweating or when you’re sick and are losing hydration through conditions such as vomiting or diarrhea. Even when you have a loss of appetite, drinking this kind of beverage can still be a manageable way for many to intake the water and the minerals they need in order for their bodies to function well.
Providing a Functional Light Source With Purported Air-Cleansing Benefits
Himalayan salt lamps are becoming a trendy decor piece for many, but the science behind salt lamps does not fully support all of the claimed benefits being touted by merchandisers.
However, himalayan salt lamps may be able to act as ionizers, releasing negative ions into the air which may result in fewer germs and irritations floating around in the room. Since having fewer irritating particles in the air can help decrease allergy symptoms and related problems, some are calling Himalayan salt lamps a must-have for every room in the house.
Additionally, negative ions are thought to produce biochemical reactions that can actually help increase serotonin levels and reduce feelings of stress and depression while increasing alertness. Salt lamps may also protect individuals from electromagnetic pollution and can be placed in business offices as well. As the salt lamp gets warm, a pleasant smell may also be emitted.
Although Himalayan salt lamps get called a natural air purifier, some researchers don’t believe in the hype and consider the salt lamps as nothing more than sources of light. If you’re interested in trying one out for yourself, you may be able to pick up a Himalayan salt lamp from a local store or order one online. On the other hand, you may be more inclined to pass on the trend and stick to alternative air-purifying means that are more clinically supported.
Potential Risks of Himalayan Salt
Too Much Sodium Can Cause Blood Pressure Problems
Himalayan salt, like all sodium substances, can elevate your blood pressure and cause hypertension when consumed in excess. To avoid blood pressure problems, it’s important to maintain a healthy diet overall and limit your total salt intake. If you are adding Himalayan salt to a meal, make sure that your other ingredients are naturally low in sodium to begin with so that you’re not overdoing it.
Raw Salt Doesn’t Provide the Same Access to Iodine
Iodine is an important chemical element that the body needs access to but can’t produce on its own. A lack of iodine can lead to thyroid problems, ovulation and infertility issues and increased risks for the development of certain cancers including breast, prostate, thyroid and endometrial cancers. During pregnancy, a lack of iodine can lead to high blood pressure in the mom and central nervous system problems in the baby including mental handicaps.
Since there is little iodine naturally found in food, iodine is actually added during the production process of many table salt products to deliver iodized salt. Although Himalayan salt can inherently contains some traces of iodine, the natural rock salt is not additionally fortified with iodine.
If you’re interested in replacing your table salt with Himalayan salt but are concerned by the prospect of getting less iodine in your diet, you can occasionally increase your consumption of iodine-containing foods such as fish, seaweed and dairy products.
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