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Can you imagine a meal without salt? It’s one of the key ingredients that determines the taste of food in many ways and is found in every home. Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl) It plays an important role in processed food products too, both for its flavouring properties and as a preservative. The body needs salt for nerve and muscle function and regulation of fluids in the body, however excessive intake of salt can result in health hazards and often patients with hypertension, high blood pressure and kidney issues are advised to reduce their salt intake.
Video Credit: Cooking With Sana/ YouTube
Off-late racks at supermarkets are filled with a variety of brands that sell Himalayan Pink Salt. Online grocery stores too list the product right on top owing to its growing popularity. From cooking to spa treatments pink salt is being used everywhere. In a new trend, lamps are being made from pink salt too. Originally produced in Pakistan, pink salt is considered to be healthier than table salt as it contains minerals and nutrients that aren’t available in table salt.
Is the popularity of pink salt just hype or is it really good for your health and how does it compare to table salt and rock salt used traditionally in Indian homes? Here’s what you should know.
Table Salt
Table salt is fine-grained, white, and uniform in texture. It is usually derived from sea salt or mined salt that has been heavily processed. This salt has to be refined to remove impurities. The majority of table salt used these days is iodised. Regular salt is fortified with iodine, a necessary nutrient for thyroid health. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid disease, The thyroid gland uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones, which aid in tissue repair and regulate metabolism.
Is Himalayan Pink Salt Really Better?
The aesthetic appeal of pink salt and good marketing have played a significant role in its popularity. Pink Himalayan salt is a pink-coloured salt extracted from the Khewra Salt Mine, which is located near the Himalayas in Pakistan. Khewra is one of the oldest and largest salt mines in the world. Pink salt is believed to be minimally processed as compared to table salt and the natural harvesting process is supposed to help preserve its natural nutrients and minerals.
Minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium, and potassium are found in this salt and they play a role in both the appearance and taste of this salt. While the presence of these minerals have been verified it is also said that these aren’t present in enough quantities to provide health benefits. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7603209/) While there have been articles that claim that consumption of pink salt helps to improve respiratory diseases and regulate blood sugar, there hasn’t been adequate scientific evidence to prove this.
Rock Salt
Rock salt, just like pink salt, rock salt is also typically less refined than table salt and often contains minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. However, Its health benefits have been scientifically proven Since it is less refined, it also carries impurities. It is not as pretty as pink salt but is often used in Indian homes for cooking. It is usually coarse and can be white, gray, or even slightly pink as it is not standardised. Chefs and cooking enthusiasts often choose rock salt for its milder flavour as compared to refined table salt. It is also used in ice cream makers and to cure meats due to its ability to draw out moisture and inhibit bacterial growth.
According to a study salt is more harmful for health than beneficial and Himalayan salt or rock salt isn’t any better than other salts in that aspect.
