Many people claim that Pink Himalayan salt provides amazing health benefits and that it's loaded with trace minerals from the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. It's a kind of salty salt that is mined mostly in Pakistan and it's naturally white in color. It has been used by the Himalayan people for many centuries as an excellent healing salt. Many of the Himalayan salt lamps are made using this form of salt and many users claim amazing benefits. However, some of these benefits are not fully understood. In fact, Himalayan crystal salt can be pretty toxic when it's in its natural state.
There are two types of minerals found in Himalayan salt are sodium and potassium. These two minerals are very important to your health. You should keep in mind that both sodium and potassium have different effects on the body and you must understand how each one plays a role.
Here are the basics:
Potassium – This mineral is responsible for muscle cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and even heart problems. If you take too much of the potassium mineral in your diet, it may contribute to irregular heartbeat or palpitations. This is the reason why people who work in extreme climates often suffer from palpitations. On the contrary, small amounts of magnesium can help alleviate these symptoms. So if you want to get your hands on some Pink Himalayan salt, make sure you're getting small quantities of potassium along with it.
Sodium – As previously mentioned, sodium is needed to carry out a number of functions in your body. One of the most important functions in the regulation of your blood pressure. Too little sodium can lower your blood pressure and make you more prone to having a stroke. However, excessive sodium can contribute to high blood pressure and heart problems. Since most Himalayan salt crystals contain around one percent sodium, you should be able to find sufficient amounts of this mineral by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
Mineral flavor – Most Himalayan salt comes in a fine, dark brown color but some varieties do come in other colors, such as red, green, yellow, and blue. Salt lamps are a great way to add flavor to your food because they generate heat. When you cook with them, the surface area of the salt vibrates, thus releasing the mineral flavor. For example, cooking with sodium chloride causes a salty taste in your food, which is great for bread, cheese, vinegar, seafood, and many more common foods. On the other hand, baking with kahunas also generates a salty flavor and is used to add flavor to cookies, cakes, and candies. It also adds a nice touch to the wine.
Salt additives – Some Himalayan salt comes in the form of additives, which usually include magnesium, iron, calcium, manganese, and zinc. These additives can be good for your health and are usually used to extend the shelf life of canned goods, but they don't have any real health benefits. You should avoid any salt with these types of additives and instead look for regular table salt.
Excessive harvesting – When Himalayan salt is mined, it takes millions of years to produce enough salt for use. This means that each person who mined the salt would be contributing to the depletion of the Earth's natural resources. The downside of using kosher salt and other salts mined from the Himalayan region is that there isn't as much available each year to meet the demand.
It's important to make sure that the supplier you're buying from is a genuine company. There's a good chance that some unscrupulous traders are taking advantage of the mineral riches of the Himalayan region. To stay away from them, check their website carefully and look for independent audits carried out. If you do find independent parties publishing reports about mining in the region, these reports should be reliable. Finally, if you choose to go to the Himalayan salt mines yourself, make sure you know what you're getting.