Pink salt - A Himalayan touch to your health

Did you hear about pink salt? It is a sea salt preserved in mountain cracks for millions of years.

It comes from the Khewra salt mine in Pakistan. It lies near the Himalayan foothills. It is the oldest and largest salt mine in the world.  

It is loaded with minerals and benefits your body, from head to toe. It helps maintain your blood pressure, fluid balance, hydration, and muscle health.

People extract the salt crystals with their hands. Explosives are not used to maintain the shapes of the salt crystals and maintain their purity.

Fun Fact: Pink salt extraction rose by 4.5% from 2020 to 2025.

When was pink salt extracted first?

The Janjua tribes were the first to extract pink salt in the 1200s. The salt was found in the army barracks of King Alexander.

The halite and gypsum evaporated over 600 million years ago to create these salt deposits.

Miners draw out pink salt from the Pothohar Plateau to the south of the Himalayan range. Iron impurities make it pink in color.

How does pink salt benefit your health?

Pink salt has several benefits that soothe your body, which include:

• Muscle: Pink salt eases muscle contraction and muscular tension by hydrating the muscles.

• Hydrates the body: Pink salt balances electrolytes and promotes moisture retention inside your body.

• Skin: The pink salt restores pH levels of skin, reducing acne. It is suitable for eczema. It exfoliates facial and scalp skin, making hair and skin healthy. It has antibacterial properties that make your skin supple.

• Sleep: Magnesium helps your brain relax and eases body muscles and tissues, aiding in sleep.

• Digestion: Pink salt activates metabolic enzymes. It maintains pH levels, reduces internal inflammation, deworms intestines, and restores acid-base levels in the gut.

• Additional benefits: Pink salt cleans the air funnel, easing respiration. It assists mineral absorption, boosts immunity, and detoxifies blood.

Fun Fact: Globally, manufactured salt is used to de-ice the roads rather than for cooking.

Excessive pink salt may affect your health

Salt fortifies your health. The approved limit of Himalayan pink salt intake is ½  to 1 teaspoon daily. Excess intake may cause:

• Swelling: Higher pink salt levels mean higher sodium in the blood. Sodium aids your body to hold water, resulting in swelling.

• Blood pressure: High doses of pink salt intake cause high blood pressure or hypertension.

• Allergies: Pink salt has numerous minerals. It becomes harmful for people with mineral or metal allergies.

• Kidney disease: Excess pink salt in your meals may cause the kidneys to hold water, developing kidney problems.

• Bone porosity: When blood has higher sodium levels, calcium from the bones flush out through urine, reducing the thickness of bones. Thus, it may cause osteoporosis.

Beyond recommended daily use, one must consult a physician before using Himalayan pink salt, whether it is suitable or not.

Mineral composition of pink salt

Over 80 minerals compose pink salt, some of which are counted per 100 grams.

• Magnesium - 11,900 mg

• Calcium - 580 mg

• Potassium - 455 mg

• Sodium - 369 mg

In 1924, many US residents suffered from goiter. Then, Morton Salt Company started mixing iodine into salt to meet the iodine requirements of US residents.

Difference between common salt and pink salt

Common salt and pink salt have equal sodium levels, but they differ in other properties. Find the differences below:

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What supporters say about the health benefits of pink salt

Pink Himalayan salt is the most expensive salt globally. However, scientists suggest that the amount of mineral content is relatively low and may not make any significant difference.

Many people believe that it benefits your body, which includes:

• Minerals: The mineral content of pink salt may have health benefits, like maintaining enzymes and hormones in small chunks.

• Preservative: Pink salt preserves meat, enhances food flavor, and restores minerals in the body.

• Therapies: Pink salt is used in salt therapies or halotherapies. It refreshes the nervous system, promotes easy breathing, reduces blood pressure & stress levels, and enhances skin health.

• Common salt substitute: You may use pink salt for cooking, marinades, or sprinkling on salad. It multiplies the flavor of baked foods. It has the same amount of sodium as common salt.

• Spas: Pink bath salt rejuvenates your skin by detoxifying it. It gives you a healthy and youthful glow. Spas provide a soothing aromatherapy with pink salt.

Ocean water is a bit saltier at the equator than poles due to the high evaporation rates.

Pink salt sprinkles on your food

Many recipes using pink salt are available on social platforms. A few of them are below.

Pink salt trick:

• A glass of warm water

• A pinch of pink salt

• A teaspoon of lemon juice

• A drizzle of honey

• Stir them all to make a drink

Pink salt trick can be consumed daily morning on an empty stomach. It restores your electrolytes during dehydration. It activates your metabolism before your first meal of the day.

Pink salt water:

• A glass of water

• A pinch of pink salt

• Stir well and drink

One should drink pink salt water in an empty stomach to flush out toxins from your skin and stomach. It replenishes electrolytes to restore nerve function and muscle contractions.

Pink salt drizzle:

• Half a teaspoon of pink salt

• 3 tablespoons of olive oil

• One lemon juice

• Honey to balance the taste

• One clove of minced garlic

• Finely chopped parsley or dill

• Mix these ingredients and drizzle on salads or grilled veggies.

Pink salt drizzle can be consumed in one meal daily. It boosts digestion and helps with losing those additional pounds.

Pink salt - a natural refresher

Salt awakens our taste buds and enhances the taste of various recipes. It balances our body fluids, maintains bones and muscles, and detoxes our gut. Try to combine it in food proportionately to avail of the benefits of salt. How would you use pink salt- as a drizzle or a sprinkle?