What girl doesn’t like anything pink? Well, there’s A LOT to love about all the benefits of Pink Himalayan salt. Considered a healthy food, unlike table salt, pink Himalayan salt has a wide range of nutritional and therapeutic benefits as well as culinary uses. Read on to discover all the ways you can incorporate pink Himalayan salt into your daily health routine. Upgrade your salt game!
What Is Pink Himalayan Salt?
Pink Himalayan salt comes from the Punjab region of Pakistan just south of the Himalayas. With a history dating back to Earth’s creation, Himalayan salt is believed to be composed of remnants from the original, primal sea. It is naturally rosy pink in color due to its superior mineral content. Pink Himalayan salt can contain over 84 minerals and trace elements, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, and iron, so it does more than just make your food taste better!
Why is it Better than Table Salt?
Traditional table salt is very heavily processed which strips the mineral content of the salt. After processing, most table salts only contain sodium and added iodine. In addition, many commercial table salts undergo a bleaching process that contains aluminum which is highly toxic. However, pink Himalayan salt minerals remain intact and include calcium, magnesium, copper, and iron. In comparison, pink Himalayan salt is very pure while table salt is far from its natural state. It’s important to note that pink Himalayan salt does not contain iodine so be sure to consume iodine-rich foods such as cod, dairy, shrimp, and eggs, to avoid iodine deficiency.
7 Health Benefits
Balances Body’s pH
Do you often feel sluggish? That fatigue and brain fog may be due to a pH imbalance. Most of us don’t realize the importance of our body’s pH. An unbalanced pH can cause serious health problems from loss of bone density to immune deficiency, and kidney stones. When your pH has a healthy acid-to-alkaline ratio, your overall health improves greatly. The rich mineral content and electrolytes in Pink Himalayan salt harmonizes your body’s pH so you can achieve the perfect balance. The best way to consume pink Himalayan salt for pH therapeutic purposes is by combining 1 tablespoon pink salt and 1 lemon sliced in 2 liters of water. Allow it to sit overnight before drinking. For more information on the benefits of this drink, click here.
Improves Respiratory Function
According to recent research, pink Himalayan salt has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that loosen up excessive mucus and speeds up mucus clearance, removes airborne pathogens like pollen, and decreases IgE levels (immune system oversensitivity). Derived from the Greek word for salt, “halos”, halotherapy or salt therapy, is the inhalation of micronized dry salt within a chamber that mimics a salt cave. This type of therapy has been shown to be a promising treatment for chronic bronchitis and COPD.
Naturally Aids Digestion
As we discussed in pH benefits, the same saltwater solution (referred to as sole) is also used as a digestive aid. Daily use of sole is believed to stimulate peristalsis of the digestive organs, balance stomach acid, support the production of digestive fluids in the liver and pancreas, regulate metabolism, and harmonize the acid-alkaline balance. So if you are looking to become more ‘regular’, drink one glass of sole every morning. Click here for more info on the sole and other homemade electrolyte drinks.
Air Purifier
Pink Himalayan salt lamps have become popular in recent years but they’re more than funky interior decor. One of the main Himalayan salt lamp benefits is it’s supposed ability to cleanse the air around it. The lamp is essentially a block of pure Himalayan salt that attracts air pollutants as well as water vapor. The lamps heat evaporates the water vapor but the toxins, allergens, and dust stay trapped in the salt ions instead of getting released back into the air. For a more in-depth look at Himalayan salt lamps check out this post on Mom Life Happy Life.
Induces Sleep
It may be surprising but eating enough salt in your diet is actually key to a good night’s sleep. Research back in 1989 showed that low-sodium diets (500mg) can cause disturbed and irregular sleep patterns. People who consumed 5,000mg sodium a day slept longer with fewer instances of waking up at night. In the study, Dr. Michael Vitiello, the director of the Sleep and Aging Research Program at the University of Washington points out that “low levels of sodium in the blood cause blood volume to decrease, and the sympathetic nervous system becomes more active in order to compensate. That causes sleepers to wake up more often and have difficulty going back to sleep.” This doesn’t mean you can go crazy with salt but if may be good to know that avoiding salt all together can be the cause of your sleep troubles.
Reduces Muscle Soreness & Cramping
Are your muscles feeling tired and achy? A great way to detoxify and relax sore or cramped muscles is to soak in a warm bath infused with pink Himalayan salt. Magnesium, calcium, and other trace minerals in the salt help heal overworked muscles. These minerals can also help strengthen bones and connective tissues that can contribute to body soreness. For a therapeutic bath, add 4-10 ounces of Himalayan salt to warm water, soak for 20 minutes, and feel your stress melt away!
Glowing Skin
If your skin is dry and flaky, you most likely;y have dead skin cells sitting on the surface of your skin. Time to exfoliate! Pink Himalayan salt is an awesome way to exfoliate the skin. Sloughing away the dead skin cells exposes healthy, glowing skin underneath and promotes the growth of healthy new cells. A simple 3 ingredient DIY pink salt scrub is a great addition to your skincare routine. Combine one cup of pink Himalayan salt, 1/4 cup melted coconut oil, and 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil. Store in a glass jar and use weekly for beautiful rejuvenated skin.
Final Thoughts
You should always store salt in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. You can use fine pink Himalayan salt for cooking and seasoning just like you would use any other kind of salt. Make sure your Himalayan salt comes from Pakistan, which is the only true source. Keep in mind, even though pink Himalayan comes with a plethora of health benefits, it is still a salt that is high in sodium so you don’t want to overdo it. The FDA recommends a daily sodium intake of no more than 2,300 mg and a 1/4 teaspoon of Himalayan salt contains about 500 mg.
