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The difference between pink Himalayan salt and regular salt is not enough to have a drastic effect on your health
Although pink Himalayan salt contains some minerals that are not found in table salt, these minerals are too low in concentration to have significant health benefits.
Pink Himalayan salt contains 84 distinct trace minerals, 98% of which is sodium chloride. This means that only 2% of this type of salt contains trace minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Therefore, the difference between pink Himalayan salt and regular salt is not enough to have a drastic effect on your health.
What is pink Himalayan salt?
Pink Himalayan salt is a naturally pink-hued salt that is extracted from the Himalayas in South Asia. Although it is mined similarly to rock salt, pink Himalayan salt is technically a type of sea salt.
Pink Himalayan salt is free of additives and minimally processed, which means that it does not lose as many minerals. The minerals are what give the salt its characteristic pink color and distinctive flavor.
6 possible health benefits of pink Himalayan salt
All salt, including pink Himalayan salt, can help you achieve adequate sodium levels needed for optimal health. However, there are some unique health claims regarding pink Himalayan salt, which lack supporting research.
Some of these benefits of both pink salt and regular salt include the following:
1. More organic
Table salt is typically highly refined and combined with anti-caking chemicals such as sodium aluminosilicate or magnesium carbonate to prevent clumping. Pink Himalayan salt, however, is unrefined and free of additives, making it a more natural alternative.
2. Lowers sodium intake
Pink Himalayan salt often has larger crystals than table salt and less sodium per teaspoon than table salt. Additionally, it tastes saltier than table salt, requiring less salt per serving to get the same flavor.
3. May improve skin health
Pink Himalayan salt is said to have pH-balancing properties that can help improve skin health and prevent skin issues such as acne and eczema.
4. May improve respiratory health
Some people believe that salt therapy, which involves breathing in salt-infused air, is helpful for people with respiratory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Scientists have discovered statistically significant improvements in surveys given to respondents with COPD who used a dry salt inhaler.
5. Helps balance electrolytes
Adding a pinch of pink Himalayan salt to meals or beverages may help balance fluid and electrolyte levels. This is true of all salts, however, and not unique to pink salt.
6. Promotes sleep
Salt intake can affect sleep quality. According to studies, low-sodium diets can cause blood volume to decrease in the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn triggers the release of stress hormones that can disrupt sleep.
How much salt should you consume a day?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the average American consumes 3,400 mg of sodium a day, which is more than the recommended amount.
Sodium intake should be limited to about 2,300 mg or one teaspoon a day, considering that many processed foods account for 75% of the excess salt in American diets.
What to keep in mind with pink Himalayan salt
Research has not shown that pink Himalayan salt has any nutritional advantages that make it better than regular table salt.
Although it is a great natural substitute for table salt if you want to stay away from additives, pink salt and regular salt are chemically similar. Table salt also contains iodine, which pink salt does not. So if you decide to stick to pink Himalayan salt, you will need to consume more iodine-rich foods such as fish, dairy products, and seaweed to prevent iodine deficiency.
