The colorful ingredient (pink salt) that works like magic.

Salt is a magic ingredient. A pinch of it would make your food palatable: without it, you cannot have even a morsel (of food). Importantly, we need salt for electrolyte balance, to maintain our blood pressure, and a healthy heart, etc.

Let us have a look at the history of salt : 

Thousands of years ago, when salt was discovered it was primarily used as a preservative for many foods such as meat, fish, butter, cheese, pickles, and fermented vegetables, etc. In the ancient days, pink salt from the Himalayas was used as a medicine to calm the brain (nervous system) and to balance the body temperature in winters (by preventing cold chills). It was also used as medicine to provide relief from the infection (gargling mixed with warm water). In summers, water mixed with salt and sugar was consumed for rehydration i.e., to retain the electrolytes.

Pink salt contains a natural form of iodine and 82 vital minerals such as zinc, selenium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron, copper, etc. Very few of us are aware of the fact that in the olden days, salt was used as currency as well. In fact, it was also traded for gold: surprising isn’t it?

Myths about salt:

But there are lots of myths about salt such as it is not good for heart health, it raises blood pressure, etc. But the fact is, while we are deficient in natural salt that contains minerals, we continue to consume fortified or artificial salt (iodized, MSG) that leads to increased blood pressure. Many of us think salt contains only iodine, so one should only use iodized salt, or one should reduce its consumption, and in certain cases, even stop consuming it completely.

Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland).  Enlargement of the thyroid gland leads to underproduction (hyperthyroidism) or overproduction (hypothyroidism) of the thyroid hormones. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing the required amount of thyroid hormones which, in turn,  are responsible for the proper functioning of the body cells such as for metabolism, maintaining blood pressure, breathing, etc.  When the body is short of iodine, the thyroid gland enlarges so that it can grab more iodine to function. The gland keeps growing even when it does not get enough iodine, leading to the gland’s malfunctioning.

By now, you would have understood that we should consume natural salt instead of the artificial salt, and despite the ‘stop consuming’ calls.

Facts about salt:

The fact is natural salt is not harmful while it’s artificial (fortified) counterpart definitely is (which may lead to dysfunctional nervous and cardiac systems, and high or low blood pressure, etc.). Artificial or fortified salt means that the salt has undergone the process of refining, where all the natural minerals present in it are flushed out, and later, the salt is fortified (supplemented) with iodine. Nowadays, due to the growing incidences of iron deficiency, salt is also fortified with iron. Further, we are not only consuming fortified salt directly via our food, we also consume artificial salt indirectly through packed and processed foods (namkeens, ketchup, sauces), etc. They contain MSG (Monosodium glutamate) – which is a leading cause for migraine, depression, anxiety, autism, and many neurological disorders. 

How can you benefit greatly from the magic pinch?

• The first and foremost thing to do right away is to replace the iodized salt in your kitchen with the Himalayan pink salt. Doing so will prevent any undue fluctuations in your blood pressure.  

• Eating an apple first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach), with 4-5 pinches of rock salt sprinkled on the slices, will gradually reduce the occurrence of migraines.

• When you are low on energy or feeling dizzy, gulp in a glass of water by adding a 1 tsp of sugar and 2-3 pinches of pink salt to it.

• Add this pink salt while preparing foods that need preservation [papad, pickle, dried amla, fermented veggies (kimchi)].

• Add it to your refreshers like lemonade, jaljeera, etc.

Thank you,

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