Eating Right: Himalayan Crystal Pink Salt

Himalayan Crystal Pink Salt

What is Himalayan Pink Salt?

Himalayan crystal pink salt is over 250 million years old! and is free from all kinds of pollutants. 98% of the Himalayan Pink Salt is made up of Sodium Chloride and 2% is trace minerals. It contains at least 84 naturally occurring trace elements in their natural mineral form. It is mined from the Himalayan Region found in Pakistan, India, and Nepal.

The benefits of including pink salt in your diet include:

• Promotes sleep
• Regulates water content of the body
• Reduces muscle cramps
• Improves respiratory health
• Helps in balancing the body’s pH
• Improved digestion

Typical table salt is heavily processed and contains additives such as sodium aluminosilicate or magnesium carbonate (anti-caking agents) to make it free-flowing. Himalayan pink salt is less processed and does not contain any additives.

Difference between Pink Salt and Sea Salt:

For starters, Pink salt comes from pink to red color. The iron content in the pink salt imparts this color to the salt. The unique taste of Pink Salt is attributed to the presence of trace minerals.  Sea Salt is mined from the sea through evaporation ponds. The color of sea salt varies from grey to white. Sea Salt can also be obtained through saltwater lakes (e.g., Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan). The chances of pollution are high in Sea salt. All sea salt brands in the market are iodized which is required by the law in India.  Most of the pink salt brands in the market are non-iodized. Very few brands have iodized pink salt (check labels before buying).

Processing of Common Salt or Table Salt:

Table salts are heavily processed and it is chemically cleaned and the result is Sodium Chloride. Natural raw salt contains sodium chloride along with other trace minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and vanadium. So when salt is processed heavily and chemically cleaned, only sodium chloride is the end product along with iodine (added) and other additives. The form of sodium chloride is unnatural and the body recognizes it as foreign! To metabolize this, the body has to utilize a tremendous amount of its energy reserves and the gain in terms of minerals is zero. What remains after ordinary table salt is “chemically cleaned” is sodium chloride, an unnatural chemical form of salt that your body recognizes as something completely foreign.

This processed form of salt (sodium chloride) can upset fluid balance in the body. This can also lead to Rheumatism, arthritis, and kidney stones. Also often processed salts contain calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, and aluminum hydroxide to improve the free flow of the table salt. These chemicals are dangerous and can cause serious damage to health in the long run. 

Crystalline Structure of Pink Salt:

The common table salt (commercial ultra-processed free-flow salt) when viewed under a microscope reveals that the crystalline structure of the salt is broken, isolated, and effectively dead.  This means that our body has to utilize a tremendous amount of its own energy reserve to metabolize these crystals.  This is because common table salt is nearly 98% sodium chloride and the rest 2% is chemicals like iodine, anticaking agents, or moisture absorbers. It is processed at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit and this extreme heat modifies the natural crystalline structure of the salt.

Sea Salt structure is somewhat isolated, irregular, and disconnected and is relatively better than table salt. However, the body has to utilize large amounts of energy to metabolize the vital minerals present in the salt due to its disconnected crystalline structure. There is a loss of energy in the body and net gains of minerals are negligible.

The crystal structure of the Himalayan pink salt is uniform and connected without any rough edges. The crystals are not disconnected and the vital minerals (84 of them) in them are in a symphonic state i.e, it is full of life. Consequently, these minerals are easily metabolized by the body and there is no energy loss in the body.

How to use Himalayan Pink Salt?

Cooking Uses:

It is used in the same way as one used table salt or sea salt. For cooking, pickling, as a preservative, baking, etc. Pink salt slabs are available for cooking, grilling, or cutting purposes. Apart from its culinary uses, pink salt is also available in the form of lamps or as a candle holder. It can be used as a bath salt or in scrubs as well.

Therapeutic Uses:

Salt Therapy (Halotherapy)

Himalayan pink salt also finds application in Halotherapy (also known as salt therapy). Halotherapy is an alternative system of treatment for skin and respiratory disorders. Respiratory tract infections, asthma,  chronic bronchitis, frequent colds, pharyngitis, sinusitis, rhinitis,  tonsillitis, pneumonia, etc. are treated with salt therapy.

Bath Salts

Himalayan Pink Salt contains minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium. These minerals are easily absorbed through the skin pores and purify our skin on a molecular level. Magnesium helps in fighting stress and fatigue, calcium checks water retention in the body, potassium helps in balancing moisture levels in the skin and sodium helps in balancing lymphatic fluid in our bodies. Bath salts are therapeutic for the skin and body.

How to prepare for a salt bath?

Use at least 500g of bath salt for 50-60 liters of water. This would be approximately a 1% salt solution. Keep the water temperature at about 37 C to gain maximum benefits. Do not use any other soaps or oils while taking a salt bath. Salt bath time should not exceed more than 20-30 min. Do not shower at the end, just dry off with a towel. It is highly recommended to relax for at least 30 min after the salt bath.  Similarly one can make foot soaks.  Dissolve one cup of pink salt in warm water and soak your feet for 20-30 minutes.

Sole Water

Sole (pronounced as so-lay) is nothing but supersaturated salt water! Which is full of minerals.  It offers numerous benefits. It helps to hydrate the body, boosts energy, and improves mood. It is also good for bone health, muscle cramps, skin, and hair health.  Sole is also a powerful anti-histamine.

How to make sole?

Take a glass jar with a nonmetallic lid.  Pour Himalayan salt to fill ¼ of the jar. Now pour filtered water to fill the jar. Leave it overnight, the salt would have dissolved by morning. Repeat the process, until the salt is not dissolved anymore in the water. Sole is ready now.  Take 1 tsp of this sole and mix it with one glass of drinking water. Drink this in an empty stomach in the morning.  Concentrate sole can be applied directly to skin rashes and wounds. Please consult your doctor before starting any therapy especially if you are nursing or have a medical condition.

Other Uses:

For throat gargling. It’s a common practice to gargle the throat with salt water to prevent or reduce throat infections. One can dissolve the pink salt in warm water or use diluted sole for this purpose.

Jala Neti (Nasal Wash): Jala Neti can be done using pink salt.