Himalayan pink salt: is it true that it has health benefits?

This type of pink salt has been associated with many medicinal properties. Are they true?

Salt is and has been throughout history a fundamental element in our diet.It is used both in the preparation of dishes and in the preservation of food. It is, at least in the case of those used for consumption, sodium chloride, a necessary component for life and the electrolyte balance of the organism (although it is already present in food naturally).

However, as we already know, an excess of salt in the diet is extremely harmful and can lead to life-threatening health conditions and states. That is why the existence of alternatives that are apparently lower in sodium and healthier is desirable, and these alternatives are becoming more and more popular.

An example of this can be found in the increasingly common Himalayan pink salt, of which we are going to talk in this article.of which we are going to talk about in this article.

The pink salt of the Himalayas

It receives the name of pink salt of the Himalayas a type of salt of pinkish coloration that in spite of its name does not come from this mountain range but from the Khewra salt mine in Pakistan.. It is a type of rock salt, since it comes from mines and not from the sea, which is widely sold around the world as one of the most natural and healthy salts, and even medicinal properties are attributed to it.

It is a natural and unrefined salt, something that has earned it the admiration of many. It is also it is usually more expensive than normalIt is often considered a type of exotic gourmet salt.

It is generally said to have about 84 essential components for our diet, although some studies seem to indicate that only about ten of them have been found in the samples analyzed. Specifically, it has been observed that sodium chloride (this being the major component), magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, cobalt, chromium, zinc, fluorine, gold, calcium, manganese and iodine. In addition, the presence of impurities in the form of gypsum (and in some cases, although in a negligible proportion, lead, mercury or arsenic) has also been observed.

Its main use is in cooking, where it is especially attractive both for its different appearance from common salt and for the benefits it is considered to have. It has also been used as a decorative elementIt has also been used as a decorative element, as an element to add to the water when we bathe and there are even lamps of this type of salt.

Its supposed properties

Ever since the so-called pink gold was named and introduced by Peter Ferreira in Germany, there has been talk of the supposed medicinal properties of this type of salt. the alleged medicinal properties of this type of salt..

These include the alleged ability to reduce atherosclerosis, regulate blood pressure and prevent arrhythmias, as well as helping to treat asthma or osteoporosis (supposedly strengthening the bones). It has also been said that this type of salt favors the acid-base balance of the blood and that it has Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action, and that it helps to regulate the amount of glucose in the blood (something that would be useful for diabetics), to prevent cramps and to improve libido and sleep. It is also said to improve kidney function, prevent fluid retention and facilitate hydration.

What studies seem to indicate

As we have indicated in the previous section, those that have been indicated so far are properties that have been attributed to it. Although some of them are true, others are based on the existence of specific minerals that, in order to generate a real positive effect, would require a massive consumption of salt (which, on the other hand, would generate adverse effects). a real positive effect would require a massive consumption of salt (which, on the other hand, would generate adverse effects).. Unfortunately, and according to some studies carried out, behind many of these advantages we can find a considerable marketing strategy.

It is true that we are dealing with a natural and unrefined type of salt, which is not processed and therefore its properties are not chemically manipulated, something that on the other hand may allow its impurities to reach our table. However, there are authors who indicate that in fact the pink salt owes its coloration to a process of elaborationnot being as natural or pure as it is pretended.

Another noteworthy point is that although its composition is practically the same as that of other salts and is mainly made up of sodium chloride, it is true that it has a saltier taste (something that makes us use less) and that since it is made from large blocks of salt, the amount of sodium in each serving is lower. Ultimately, this may have a positive effect, or rather, it may not affect our health as much as other foods, not affect our health as much as other salts do at the vascular level..

In addition, like other salts, it is also involved in regulating the body's electrolyte balance and contributes to fluid retention. It also makes sense that it can help prevent cramps, as some cramps are caused by low electrolyte levels. Regarding the rest of the supposed properties, a higher level of research will be necessary to evaluate them, and for the moment there is not enough evidence in this regard or they are considered to be directly false.

Bibliographical references:

• Hall, H. (2017). "Pink Himalayan Sea Salt: An Update." Science-based Medicine.