Himalayan Pink salt or the pink salt is a kind of salt which is 96% sodium chloride and the remaining 4% consists of impurities like various minerals and others. This mineral content in these salts is what gives it the colour.
Depending upon the type and quantity of the impurities the colour of the salt may vary from transparent, white, pink, red and every other shades in-between. It is basically mined right out of the rocks in the mountains of Himalayas.
Himalayan salt was formed millions of years ago, it is believed to be at least 250 million years old. During that time there was no Himalayas and the place was basically covered by an in land sea (sea covered entirely by land). Slowly the sea got evaporated and the salt and minerals in the sea got crystalized into salt. After some million years later, due to tectonic (movement of land masses) activities land in the area got elevated to form Himalayas.The speciality of Himalayan salt is that it got covered by a layer of volcanic lava which kept it safe to consume all these years.
PINK SALT vs TABLE SALT
Himalayan pink salt and table salt share a similar chemical composition. Both are made of sodium chloride (NaCl). However, Himalayan pink salt also contains 84 trace minerals, including calcium, magnesium and potassium, which give it its signature pink shade and account for the suitabtle difference in flavor.
HOW TO USE
You can use is for regular cooking or as a finishing salt. It offers a burst of saltiness for your palate. Himalayan salt is also good for seasoning meat as it clings to the surface well and spreads evenly. You can also blend the sweet and savoury and use a pinch in desserts.
Pink Himalayan Salt Crystal
Himalayan Rock Salt powder
HEALTH BENEFITS OF THE PINK SALT
Not only is Himalayan pink salt more attractive than its traditional counterpart (there’s really no arguing with its pretty pink hue!), many believe it offers additional health benefits, thanks to those bonus minerals. When consumed in place of the standard stuff, Himalayan pink salt purportedly aids hydration, lowers blood pressure, rids the body of heavy metals and helps improve sleep,etc.,
Helps body detoxify:
Himalayan salt contains more than 80 minerals and elements, including potassium, iron and calcium. All of these minerals aid our body’s natural detoxification process and promote the removal of bacteria.
Improves digestion :
The process of digestion actually begins in the mouth and Himalayan salt can help activate your salivary glands which release amylase (an enzyme that helps digest carbs). Later, in the stomach it stimulates hydrochloric acid as well as an enzyme that digests protein and further helps in the breakdown of food.
A recipe for a great night’s sleep :
Do you tend to wake up at 3 a.m.? There’s a reason why this is one of the most common times of night for people to wake up and struggle with sleep, and it has to do with your salt intake. Between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. biochemical reactions that occur due to a high level of stress hormones that flush through our system cause sleep disturbances and interrupt our ability to stay asleep. Studies show that low-sodium diets cause blood volume to decrease in the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn, activates adrenaline and the “fight or flight” response. For a great night’s sleep, mix some raw honey with a pinch of Himalayan salt and eat it or put it in a cup of tea.
Salt therapy for respiratory problems:
Salt therapy is a process which utilizes pure Himalayan salt to treat respiratory diseases. In some cases salt inhaler is used for the same while in the others, the person is made to sit in a room full of salt-rich air. When this salty air is inhaled, the particles travel through the entire respiratory system and the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of salt clean your lungs and sinuses. The salt therapy is also use to treat seasonal allergies and chest congestion. Himalayan salt kills bacteria and bonds with the contaminants to eliminate them.
Regulates blood sugar and hormonal balance :
A daily dose of Himalayan salt can ensure proper flow of fluids in the body. A good balance of minerals and hormones, can help in improving your insulin sensitivity and prevent sudden blood sugar spikes.
CREATIVE DIY IDEAS WITH HIMALAYAN ROCK SALT
HIMALAYAN SALT FOOT SCRUB
Materials Required :
1. 1 cup of Himalayan Sea Salt
2. 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
3. 1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil
4. 1 tablespoon of baking soda
5. 20 drops of essential oil
6. Wide-mouth pint-size jar
Step 1: Mix everything in large bowl. Don’t try to mix it in the jar — the jar is not big enough to mix everything properly. You want a clumpy consistency. Stir continuously until you get a nice thick texture.
Step 2: Put it in your jar.
Apply a small amount of scrub in circular motions. It’s important that you use a gentle hand as the salt is already quite abrasive. Wash off with warm water. Do not use on windburned, sunburned, or broken skin.
HIMALAYAN SALT BODY SPRAY
Materials Required :
1. 1 cup of distilled or boiled water
2. 1 tablespoon of Himalayan Salt
3. 1 pinch of Epsom Salt
4. 5-7 drops of essential oil (I used orange)
5. Spray bottle
Step 1: Add salts to warm water and stir until dissolved.
Step 2: Add essential oils and put in a spray bottle.
Note: It will want to separate when sitting — just shake it up before using.
HIMALAYAN SALT CANDLE HOLDER
Materials Required :
1. Pink Himalayan Salt
2. Wide-mouth pint-size jar
3. Votive holder
4. Votive candle
5. Essential oil
Step 1: Put a little pink Himalayan sea salt in the bottom of your wide-mouth jar and place the candle and votive holder into your jar.
Step 2:Spoon the pink Himalayan salt all around your candle. Drop some essential oil into the salt around the candle.
HIMALAYAN SALT FOOT SOAK
Materials Required:
1. 2 tablespoons Futuro’s Pink Salt and 2 tablespoons magnesium flakes (optional)
2. 5-8 drops of essential oils
Step 1 : Measure the salt into a bowl and stir in 5-8 drops of essential oils.
Step 2: Put hot (not boiling) water in a container large enough to cover both of your feet up to the ankles. Add in salt and magnesium flakes and stir into the water.
Soak your feet for 10-20 minutes in the water and rinse your feet with cool water and pat dry.
SOLE SALT WATER – RECEIPE AND BENEFITS
The best way to experience the benefits of Himalayan salt is to make sole water. It is water that is fully saturated with natural salt.
- Take a jug and fill 1/4th of it with Himalayan salt. Then add water to top it up completely. Seal the jug with a lid and let it sit overnight.
- By morning, the salt will dissolve in the water and if there is trace of salt left at the bottom of the jar, it indicates that the water has completely absorbed all the salt and is fully saturated.
- Now, mix 1 teaspoon of this sole water in a regular glass of water and consume every morning.
Drinking this water helps in balancing the pH levels in the body, flushes out toxins, improves your energy and keeps you hydrated at all times. Scientifically speaking, the negatively charged ions in pure salt and the trace minerals enter into the cells and pull toxins from them.