Himalayan Salt: The Truth About Its Health Benefits

Because of its ancient origins, many believe that Himalayan salts are the cleanest and purest salts and therefore, the most beneficial. 

For millions of years, Himalayan salt from northern Pakistan remained untouched. These salt deposits are the result of a sea that existed between 250 – 105 million years ago, which evaporated. Eventually, the salt deposits that remained were discovered. Due to their striking pink color, the unrefined salt was mined. Himalayan salt gets it distinct pink color from a pink microorganism that had lived in the sea where it originated. Therefore, Himalayans salt’s pink color is a sign that, in fact, it contains impurities. 

For many years, people have sought the truth about Himalayan salt. Here’s what is known:

Nutritional Value 

In an article published on TIME Health asking if pink Himalayan salt has benefits, it concludes that Himalayan salt is just a “prettier and more expensive” version of regular salt. 

A spectral analysis of Himalayan salt found that it contains over 84 trace elements which include calcium, copper, iron, and magnesium in low concentrations. However, our bodies do not need all 84 of these trace minerals. In fact, some of the listed elements include radium, plutonium, and uranium which are radioactive. Some of the other elements are classified as contaminants while known poisons such as mercury and lead also make the list.

Therapeutic Uses 

Himalayan salt is most widely used in halotherapy, (salt room therapy). Halotherapy has long been praised as a treatment for asthma. Although, according to a randomized trial led by R. Bar-Yoseph from the Pediatric Pulmonology Institute, halotherapy showed no improvement in spirometry or FeNO levels; spirometry assesses how well your lungs work while FeNO levels measure airway inflammation,  this therapy is still worth mentioning because patients in the trial showed improvement in the quality of life parameters. [1] Ultimately, while halotherapy itself did not treat their asthma, the patients, who were between 5-13 years of age, did “feel” better, showing that salt therapy has emotional and mental benefits, probably due to the negative ions they are known to release. [2]

Himalayan salt is also widely used in Himalayan salt lamps which are also known to release negative ions, enhancing physical and emotional health.

Mental Health and Well-Being 

While Himalayan salts may not be as pure or as nutritionally beneficial as they are claimed to be, there are other uses they are great for. In fact, many people swear they breathe, sleep, and feel better thanks to salt therapy, salt lamps and Himalayan salt baths. 

A good soak in a warm bath where Himalayan salt was dissolved leaves people feeling energized and refreshed. And many who enter Himalayan salt caves say they leave in a better mood, relieved of stress and feeling happier. While there is no scientific evidence that Himalayan salt trace elements are beneficial for you, we can’t argue with how people feel after a salt soak or time spent relaxing in a salt cave. 

Salt consumption and health:

Many studies found associations between high salt intake and high blood pressure, stroke, cardiovascular events, and cardiovascular deaths, but they couldn’t determine precise causes. Salt intake of under 2.3 grams (2300 mg) per day can help us avoid these associations.

But is there really a healthier salt?

Best salt for health:

The best and cleanest salt of all impurities comes from the Dead Sea. It is called The Dead Sea because its very high salinity levels (342 g/kg, or 34.2%), do not support live and no animals or plants can survive.

The Dead Sea is Earth’s lowest elevation on land and was considered as one of the 7 wonders of the world.

The mineral composition of this salt differs significantly from oceanic salt or any other salt without the less healthy trace elements found in Himalayan salt.

In fact people have been visiting the Dead sea for millennia for treatment of:

  1. Skin conditions including acne and psoriasis. The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends Dead Sea salts as an effective treatment for psoriasis. [3, 4]
  2. Rheumatologic Conditions, osteoarthritis, 
  3. Stimulating blood circulation, 
  4. Reducing inflammation, [5]  due to the high concentration of magnesium in Dead Sea salt 
  5. Allergies – Bromide and Magnesium in the Dead Sea salt may help relieve allergic reactions .[6]
  6. Skin aging – Dead Sea salt may reduce the depth of skin wrinkling. [5] 

 

As a salt for consumption, Dead Sea Salt is the one I recommend.

The Dead Sea:

I aim to go there with my family once every year for the health benefits.

Feel free to comment below and let me know what you liked best about this article.

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Thank You, 🙂

Galit Goldfarb

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References: 

[1] Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017 May;52(5):580-587. doi: 10.1002/ppul.23621. Epub 2016 Oct 10.

[2] Goel N, Terman M, Terman JS, Macchi MM, Stewart JW. Controlled trial of bright light and negative air ions for chronic depression. Psychol Med. 2005 Jul;35(7):945-55.

[3] “The Dead Sea” National Psoriasis Foundation.

[4] Proksch, Ehrhardt MD, PhD et al. “Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin”, International Journal of Dermatology, February 2005. 

[5] Ehrhardt, Proksch; Nissen, HP; Bremgartner, M; Urquhart, C. “Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution: follow-on review”. International Journal of Dermatology. 44 (2): 151–7. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02079.x. PMID 15689218.

Comments

10 Comments

  • Annika

    Reply Reply July 18, 2018

    Hi!

    Thank you for all the recipes in this page! I have tried one of them and I’m thinking of trying more. Anyway almost in every one of your recipe, it says “Pinch of Himalayan Salt”, but according to this post and some other articles on the internet, it seems that Himalayan Salt isn’t so healthy after all and is just expensive. And because I haven’t found a Dead Sea Salt anywhere, I am just wondering, if it is okay to use a normal sea salt?

    • Galit Goldfarb

      Reply Reply July 19, 2018

      Thank you for your comment 🙂 We are in a process of continual learning and after understanding the research on Himalayan salt we stopped using it and moved to Dead Sea salt as it holds the most health benefits. If it is not available, then sea salt should be fine. I’m glad you are enjoying the recipes. I will provide more recipes soon.

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