What Are the Health Benefits of Pink Himalayan Salt?
Himalayan pink salt (or pink salt) is a salt commonly used in Indian cooking. It is formed by the evaporation process of water under high pressure. Himalayan pink salt can be found in many places in Pakistan and sometimes in neighboring countries, too. It comes in different colors depending on where it was mined; some have reddish shades while others have a purplish hue.
There is no question that Himalayan pink salt is healthier than table salt. It is loaded with more potassium, magnesium and trace minerals that make it a healthier alternative. However, sodium is still an important component in a healthy diet. You just need to find a healthier alternative. Here are a few things that pink Himalayan salt can do for your health:
Lowers blood sugar levels – Most people take table salt for its ability to lower blood sugar levels. However, research indicates that taking small quantities of himalayan salt (less than 100 grams) lowers blood sugar levels even better than regular table salt. This is because the minerals in it act like insulin, increasing the amount of glucose in the body and lowering the amount of insulin in the blood. This provides a natural, healthy alternative to prescription drugs that are often prescribed for people with diabetes. Regular consumption of this salt also appears to help overweight individuals lose weight.
Increases dietary fiber intake – There are two reasons why your salt intake may be beneficial to your health. First, there is evidence that hemalayan pink salt reduces sodium intake in the food we eat. This reduces the absorption of sodium in the digestive tract. Second, it contains large amounts of magnesium which helps alleviate the effects of sodium. Consuming it on a regular basis can help you increase dietary fiber intake as well.
Improves bone mineral density – High levels of calcium and magnesium are associated with better bone mineral density. As food goes into the stomach, it passes through the small intestine where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. However, some foods that contain small quantities of these minerals don’t make it to the small intestine at all. This is one of the health benefits of pink salt.
Minimizes the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases – High amounts of salt in the body are associated with cardiovascular diseases. These include atherosclerosis, which is the build up of cholesterol plaque in the arteries. A recent study showed that regular table salt increased the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by almost 18 percent, while pink salt had little effect.
One of the best health benefits of pink Himalayan salt comes from its natural additives. Most regular table salt has some form of iodine, such as sodium or potassium, which help regulate the thyroid gland’s function. However, these additives must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which makes it difficult to obtain. Pink Himalayan salt does not contain any additives, so there is no need to worry about harmful side effects. The natural content is just as beneficial to your health as regular table salt.
There are some other trace minerals found in regular salt that are beneficial to humans as well. For example, manganese is found in trace amounts in seaweed, nuts, seeds and prawns, and is helpful for improving the immune system. Beryllium, an element needed to keep our brains alert, also occurs naturally in red and green peppers, strawberries and wine. Pink Himalayan salt contains trace minerals that benefit your wellbeing in a very different way.
Pink Himalayan salt comes from the veins and cavities of pink Himalayan salt megaliths. These places are deep inside the mountains and are often hotter and drier than other areas. The rocks there are volcanic and therefore can reach extremely high temperatures, and sometimes dry up completely. Over thousands of years, the heating and drying action of the rock forces its alkalinity to rise.
This higher alkalinity can improve the body’s overall health by increasing the absorption of nutrients and decreasing the loss of them. A bonus side effect of this extra alkaline content of pink Himalayan salt megalithmics is that it acts as a powerful antioxidant. It boosts the immune system by neutralizing toxins in our bodies, and even increases the number of cells that are cancer-resistant.
Of course, you do not have to buy the salt online or in fancy containers. You can simply sprinkle some on your food and water. The trace mineral found in this salt may also be used as a natural preservative for meats and dairy products. Thus, the health benefits of this naturally occurring salt may extend far beyond its alkalinity and sodium content.
