Is Himalayan Salt Good Or Bad For Your Health?
Himalayan pink salt is crystal salt mined in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains in Pakistan. The salt is commonly used for both cooking and food preparation and is also being used as an alternative to refined table salt. This salt was the only type of salt used in ancient history because it was available at little to no cost. Today, Himalayan salt comes in a variety of different varieties, colors, and textures that are each unique to its source area. It can be used for baking, cooking, sprinkling on food, and even as a natural fertilizer.
In the late 1700s, a man named Kaju Kumar Bhaccha was digging holes at the bottom of wells in the valleys of the Hindu religion in Pakistan's upper reaches when he realized that what lay underneath them was a rich source of salt. This was the first of the worldwide Himalayan salt mines that began to be recognized internationally. It took until the early 1900s for him to discover and mine this deposit of sulfuric rock salt. By that time though, millions of tons of his amazing rock had been shipped all over the world.
When doctors began to recognize the many health benefits of Himalayan salt, they started to use the mineral in their own healing practices and in their own patients' healing practices. Physicians and scientists are still currently in the process of fully understanding the benefits of Himalayan salt mineral and how it works, but there is enough evidence out there for anyone to use this as a dietary supplement. Its distinctive pink color and gentle, silky texture make it ideal for use in any form of massages and skin applications.
Himalayan pink salt exhibits all eight of the major chemical elements found in our bodies including calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, sulfur, silicon, and zinc. While all these minerals occur naturally in our bodies in varying amounts, man-made versions can be much more concentrated and therefore more easily absorbed by the body. The minerals found in Himalayan salt are all-natural and are even water-soluble, making them easily absorbed through the pores of the skin. There have even been reports that drinking has caused people to become healthier.
When I was in graduate school, I worked at the Himalayan salt mines in India with some of the richest women in the country. I was introduced to a new word that had not yet been introduced in my own language "khewra". This word referred to the women workers who mined the sulfur, which in turn released the minerals found in the rock. In addition to helping the miners live and work in relative luxury, these workers were also helping to keep the mines clean and ready for the coming seasons.
As a result of my experience working in the mines, I wrote an article about the topic for an English newspaper, which was published in an Indian magazine. Because of the unique geography of the area, the Himalayan mountains are host to rich flora and fauna that are nowhere else on the planet. As a result, the Himalayan salt mines are home to many animals and plants that have evolved along the landscape in some very interesting ways. My article mentioned some species that have been named by scientists, including the purple catfish and the black river pea. Many of the animals that are found in the mine pits are endemic to the Indian subcontinent and have been there for millions of years.
To this day, I have never seen any pink salt. However, I have heard many health claims about the properties of the mineral and its positive effects on one's health. For example, a company in India has begun to market a product called Bouzari. Bouzari is a health drink made from Himalayan salt and honey that is designed to reduce fatigue and boost energy levels. According to the company, it has more antioxidant power than champagne and red wine.
Despite all of these potential health benefits, it is important to note that Himalayan salt is not as well understood as other types of salts. Its impact on our health is not known much, but it is believed that it may help relieve constipation, regulate blood pressure, and regulate sugar levels. Its salts also have a diuretic effect and so may help treat conditions such as gall stones and kidney stones. On the other hand, it can also increase the amount of sodium intake in the body, thereby increasing the risks of high blood pressure, which is where hypertension usually starts in the first place.