You’ve probably been told that salt is bad for you and that you need to watch your sodium levels. Salt is actually an essential nutrient that our bodies require for transporting nutrients into and out of our cells, regulating blood pressure, exchanging ions and much more. The problem isn’t necessarily salt, but what salt to intake. Unfortunately, not all salts are equal. Table salt, which happens to be the most consumed salt, is stripped of all its minerals except for sodium and chloride, which means it will not have the same impact as a pure, unrefined salt can. However, there is a suitable replacement. Himalayan salt is one of the most nutritious and complete salts you can consume. This salt truly has some amazing health benefits!
History of the Himalayan salt
This salt was formed over millions of years in the Himalayas and contains so many macrominerals and trace minerals that it is actually pink in color. In this article, you’ll learn more about the health benefits of Himalayan salt and how it can help transform even the blandest of meals into a powerhouse of nutrition.
Reasons to love Himalayan salt
Rich in minerals
Himalayan salt’s biggest draw, of course, is its dense concentration of minerals. It contains 84 minerals, electrolytes and elements. For this reason, adding more Himalayan salt to your diet can help rectify virtually any mineral deficiency you might have. Himalayan salt contains some key minerals, such as iodine, magnesium, zinc, iron and calcium, which happen to be the five minerals people in the United States are most deficient in. For example, iodine plays an essential role in your thyroid gland’s ability to properly metabolize. Using Himalayan salt in your cooking is an easy way to help boost your iodine levels.
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Sodium content
Unsurprisingly, one of the minerals in which Himalayan salt is richest in is sodium. Though sodium suffers from a bad reputation due to its connection with processed foods, real, unprocessed sodium is needed by our bodies. It helps regulate blood volume and in turn blood pressure, but it also helps control muscle contractions, heart functions and nerve transmissions. The recommended daily intake (RDI) of sodium is between 1,500-2,300 milligrams for men and women between the ages of 9-50; one teaspoon of Himalayan salt contains approximately 400 milligrams of it.
Detoxification
Though it is traditionally eaten with food, Himalayan salt’s impressive mineral profile also lends itself well to external detoxification. For example, you can’t find a better salt than Himalayan salt in which to bathe; its minerals and negative ions easily penetrate the skin, producing a cleansing and detoxifying effect that can leave your skin and mind feeling rejuvenated and invigorated for hours thereafter. Likewise, Himalayan salt has a positive effect on our air. It’s not a coincidence that virtually all reputable salt lamps are made using Himalayan salt rather than table salt or sea salt; its negative ions bind themselves to positive ions in the air, neutralizing it and ridding it of pollutants.
Some of the other benefits that you can get from Himalayan salt include:
- Aiding in vascular health
- Supporting healthy lungs and respiratory function
- Promoting a stable pH balance within the cells
- Reducing the signs of aging
- Promoting healthy sleep patterns
- Increasing libido
- Prevents muscle cramps
- Increases hydration
- Strengthen bones
- Lowers blood pressure
- Improves circulation
- Detoxifying the body of heavy metals
