Himalayan Salt – What is This Wonderful Material?
Himalayan salt, popular in parts of India and Pakistan, is a salty mineral that has long been used in medicine, folklore and architecture. It is formed when mineral salts react with water. A lot of people have used it as an alternative to table salt because it has a neutral effect on blood pressure and can help regulate the body’s acidity levels.
Himalayan salt has been linked to hypertension in people who take high blood pressure medication. However, more evidence is needed to support this link. While it is not yet known if high blood pressure patients use Himalayan salt or if hemalayan salt lowers blood pressure naturally, it is assumed that the minerals do help lower it by affecting the sodium absorption process in the body.
Salt is an important aspect of Indian cuisine, and many people rely on Himalayan salt lamps to add flavor to food. Himalayan salt has an earthy flavor that is much like baking soda, as well as a slightly salty taste that can enhance the flavor of fruits and soups. As with all natural minerals, the flavor will intensify as it is heated. These lamps also add color to foods and can be used to add flavor to cocktails, coffee or drinks. It is possible to control the level of color intensity by varying the amount of sodium chloride in the salt crystal.
The effects of the mineral are not entirely known, but it is believed to act like calcium in the body. Calcium helps the body absorb minerals and other substances, and this is why researchers believe that Himalayan salt helps control blood pressure. In addition, calcium is known to help increase bone strength and density and to help maintain healthy teeth. While it is not clear how it does all of this, the correlation between high levels of salt mined in the Himalayan Mountains and reduced blood pressure is a proven fact.
Many health benefits exist when it comes to using Himalayan salt. It contains plenty of sodium chloride, but little else. This makes it one of the healthiest forms of salt available. While the mineral is healthier than table salt, it is still not as healthy as alternative forms, such as seawater.
One of the best things about using Himalayan salt is the fact that it is derived from nature. Most table salts are mined from rock salts which are processed and refined to make the product that we find on grocery shelves and cookbooks. While the salt mined from the Himalayan mountains is naturally pink in color, most processed salt is gray, white or brown in color. Natural sea salt is grey in color and derived from fossilized marine organisms.
Processed salt tends to lose its value and become less healthy, so people tend to be more aware of the harmful effects of the substance. Because of this, many people have begun choosing Himalayan salt over it. Although the imported products are not available in the United States, the bulk imported products still reach the U.S. One of the main producers in Pakistan is located in Upstate New York, which is about 90 miles from New York City.
Iodized salt was created as a result of World War I and World War II. The soldiers were sent home with packets of iodine tablets. After the war, the military created iodine pills to be taken by soldiers during their travels. Over the years, the medical community realized that the body only needed a small amount of iodine to prevent iodine deficiency and began adding larger amounts of iodine to the sea salt, creating Himalayan salt and completely eliminating sea salt as a source of the mineral. In fact, many physicians consider Himalayan salt to be the most natural form of iodine and many of the medical conditions associated with a deficiency, such as goiter, thyroid disorders, and thyroid cancer, may actually be prevented by using the mineral.