)
No matter what sort of low sodium diet you choose to follow, it’s truly impossible to live without salt. This simple substance is essential for your daily body functioning. Going without much salt for even a few weeks can cause you to develop hyponatremia, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough salt in your blood, putting you at risk for a heart attack or worse. However, not all salt is created equal. You may not know it, but there is an enormous difference in the vitamin and mineral contents among the types of salt you see on store shelves.
One salt variety that has gotten plenty of buzz recently is Himalayan crystal salt, a naturally mined sodium substance known for containing 84 natural minerals and elements- the exact same ones found in the human body! People around the world are raving about the health benefits of this exotic pink salt, both for its culinary uses and as an air purifying lamp. For thousands across the globe, Himalayan salt is nature’s miracle cure.
But does it really live up to the hype? Let’s look closer at these health claims to find out the truth.
The Problems With Table Salt
The most common salt in our meals today is artificially produced sodium chloride (table salt). Because this synthetic creation is devoid of any mineral content, iodine is inserted back into table salt to add some benefits. However, an injection of a single element isn’t enough to replicate the health benefits of natural salt.
Because table salt is dried at temperatures above 1,200 degrees F, the natural chemical structures get zapped beyond repair. Not only is this synthetic salt lacking in any significant nutrient content, your body also sees it as a toxic invader and struggles to process it effectively, which can lead to skin irritation, high blood pressure and bloating. It takes your body twenty grams of cellular water to neutralize just one gram of chemically-treated salt, meaning your body is strained and more easily develops conditions like arthritis, gout and kidney stones.
What about sea salt? For most of human history, this was the default salt people ate, and the health benefits of natural sea salt are undeniable. Unfortunately, sea salt is becoming increasingly processed and the oceans are becoming more polluted every year. The sad truth is when you eat sea salt today you can no longer be sure what’s really going in your body.
Himalayan Salt: A Smarter Alternative
Thankfully, when it comes to your daily salt intake there’s a smarter option: Himalayan salt.
Known by the name “white gold” in the Himalayas, this form of salt is found deep in the Middle East where it has been maturing over 250 million years in an environment of intense tectonic pressure and minimal exposure to outside toxins like pesticides, heavy metals, or PCBs. It is mined throughout the Punjab region of Pakistan, about 200 miles from the start of the Himalayas. Though salt can’t technically be considered organic, Himalayan salt is some of the purest salt found on the planet.
Unlike other forms of salt, Himalayan salt doesn’t burden your body with the stress of processing it. Instead, natural crystal salts within it actively promote a healthy sodium balance in your body and don’t contribute to high blood pressure problems like regular salt does.
3 Ways to Use Himalayan Salt
There are plenty of different uses for Himalayan salt that help your body to get the benefits of these bountiful nutrients.
- Cooking and curing: Like any other form of salt, Himalayan salt can be served pre-ground or in personal grinders in order to add flavor to your favorite foods.
- Salt Slabs: If you’re looking for an innovative way to present your food and get a tasty addition of salt to your foods, a salt slab might be what you’re looking for. These slabs can be chilled, frozen or heated in order to serve a wide variety of foods like sorbets, sushi and even scrambled eggs. Not only will you wow your guests, you’ll also infuse their food with a subtle salty taste.
- Salt Scrub: When you feel the need to exfoliate and rejuvenate your skin, a Himalayan salt bath scrub might be exactly what you’re looking for. The nutrients in each scrub will stimulate your circulation and sooth overstressed muscles, allowing your mind and body to experience an incredible moment of relaxation.
Where to Buy Himalayan Salt?
Himalayan Salt can be easily bought online via Amazon. Feel free to sample some of this pale pink salt; it’s one of the purest forms of healthy sodium that nature can provide for you.