by Pink Himalayan crystal salt is all the rage these days. It’s practically everywhere and can be found in edible form at the grocery store or even in special salt lamps that are said to promote health and healing. What makes Himalayan salt so popular and why it’s being touted over plain old table salt is the many benefits that it can provide our bodies with, that regular salt can’t.
To truly understand how Himalayan salt came to be, and why it’s a better alternative for us, you need to know a little bit of history. The Himalayas are a vast mountain range that were formed tens of millions of years ago when the huge Indian landmass collided with Asia.
The mountains have been steadily growing ever since then, at a rate of about 4-5 mm a year according to National Geographic, and they’re home to the highest elevation on Earth, Mount Everest. Over a thousand miles away from the world’s most famous peak, in northern Pakistan, lies the foothills of the Salt Range and the Khewra Salt Mine.
Millions of years ago a shallow sea evaporated and left behind tons of crystallized sea salt which over time became buried deep below the mineral rich mountains. This is where Himalayan pink sea salt comes from.
While the salt mines have been open and active for well over 100 years, it’s only recently that the immense health benefits of pink Himalayan sea salt have been widely recognized. The natural formation of the salt beds underground led to a number of trace minerals being added to it.
There are 84 minerals and trace elements found in pink Himalayan salt that include calcium, potassium, sulfates, zinc, copper, magnesium, iodine, iron, and more. These minerals, especially iron, are what gives the salt its distinctive pink color and makes it the most mineral dense type of salt in the world. Here’s some of the main health benefits that it offers:
1) Helps detox the body. In conjunction with water, salt helps our bodies move toxins out of healthy cells and into the bloodstream. From there our kidneys, spleen, and liver filter the toxins and impurities out of the blood and remove them from our systems.
2) Lowers blood pressure. Pink sea salt can actually help reduce blood pressure because it has less sodium per serving than regular table salt. The crystal structure of sea salt is larger than that of refined types, thus the crystals take up more room and fewer crystals amount to a serving, leading to less sodium per serving.
It turns out that switching from table salt to sea salt can lead to less sodium being consumed, without sacrificing taste, and lower blood pressure over time.
3) Aids in relaxation. Your mind, body, and muscles will feel better since sea salt’s composition allow it the be absorbed fast and efficiently into the bloodstream. This means tired, worn muscles are restored and replenished quickly and naturally, so your body is less stressed and can relax.
4) Helps with sinus and respiratory issues. A simple drink of sea salt dissolved in hot water can help clear up lingering sinus problems. It has also been shown to effectively improve respiratory conditions, such as asthma. Crystal salt rock lamps emit negative ions into the atmosphere which helps to purify and clean the air, and in turn clear up sinus issues.
There are several more benefits that pink Himalayan sea salt can offer your body. It has been shown to help people sleep better and even cuts down on the likelihood of a person developing varicose, or spider veins, by reversing damage done to veins.
