Himalayan salt, also known as Himalayan crystal salt, is a type of rock salt best known for its striking pink colour which comes from the natural presence of several trace minerals, including magnesium and iodine. Himalayan salt is unrefined and hand-mined from caves in northern Pakistan. Because it's millions of years old and has sat untouched, many people believe that Himalayan crystal salt is a better option than standard table salt, which may contain toxins and pollutants.
Himalayan Crystal Salt: The Health Benefits
Himalayan crystal salt has matured over the past 250 million years under intense tectonic pressure in an environment that's free of toxins and impurities.Even better, this form of salt contains about 80 natural minerals and elements used by the human body. It's popular in Ayurvedic, Tibetan, and other traditions. Adherents believe that Himalayan salt’s unique cellular structure allows it to store vibrational energy. Many also believe that natural Himalayan crystal salt offers health benefits such as:
Regulating water levels in the body
Promoting stable pH balance
Encouraging healthy blood sugar levels
Reducing the appearance of aging
Promoting cellular hydroelectric energy balance
Aiding vascular health
Supporting healthy respiratory function
Promoting overall sinus health
Reducing cramps
Promoting healthy sleep patterns
Encouraging healthy libido
Promoting kidney and gallbladder health
Advocates of traditional medicine believe that processed table salt is energetically dead, as its crystals are completely isolated from one another. For the body to metabolize chemical table salt, it must expend tremendous amounts of energy to keep the body in a state of optimum fluid balance. This creates a burden on the body's elimination systems as water is removed from other cells in an attempt to neutralize the unnatural, processed salts.
The Trouble With Table Salt
The table salt found in most homes, restaurants, and processed food is void of nutritional value and lacks beneficial trace minerals. Many people are unaware that common table salt is processed with questionable chemicals and dried at more than 1,200° Fahrenheit — a process that disrupts its natural chemical structures.
The average person consumes 3,400 mg of sodium chloride a day, over 1,000 mg more than the recommended limit. The body cannot dispose of it in a natural, healthy way, which can lead to tissue irritation, water retention, and high blood pressure.
Many of the traditionally attributed health benefits of Himalayan salt have yet to be scientifically established, but regardless of what salt you choose, it is clear that controlling your sodium intake can have a huge impact on your health and well-being. Fortunately, salt isn’t the only way to get vital trace minerals into your body.