Despite the high sodium levels of many Americans, specialty salts have become popular in the last few years, sold through websites, gourmet grocery stores, and occasionally, specialty salt shops. Himalayan pink sea salt is one of these gourmet salts. But whether these newly popular salts are better for you than your average table salt is controversial.
Where Salt Comes From
Table salt comes from underground mines. It's heavily processed, and usually includes an additive that prevents clumping. Sea salt is evaporated seawater. Generally, sea salt is much less processed than table salt. Himalayan pink sea salt is an example of the latter.
The Sea Salt versus Table Salt Debate
Table salt and sea salt contain similar amounts of sodium chloride, but their taste and texture differ. Because sea salt is less processed than table salt, it retains more minerals. This is the crux of the controversy; whether sea salt retains enough minerals to make it healthy. Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietician, says most people eat far more than the recommended 1,500 to 2,300 mg of sodium per day. So, there might be safer sources of minerals than loading up on any kind of salt.
Full Spectrum Salts
According to Mike Adams, editor of Natural News, "sea salt" is a meaningless term. He prefers "full spectrum salts." This type of salt includes a full spectrum of minerals. You can identify full spectrum salts by their color. The minerals -- and impurities from less processing -- are what put the pink in Himalayan pink sea salt, and the red in Hawaii's iron-rich volcanic salt.
Origin of Himalayan Pink Sea Salt
Himalayan pink sea salt is sandy rose in color. It's a hand-mined, stone ground, unprocessed salt that comes from 250 million year old caves in Pakistan's Karakoram Mountains. This pink salt contains 84 minerals and trace elements. Because the salt caves are so old, proponents tout the purity of this pre-pollution salt deposit.
Nutrients in Himalayan Pink Sea Salt
The major nutrients in sea salt are potassium, calcium, magnesium sulfates and iodine. This last is an essential mineral that people get mostly from salt. In the early 20th century, the prevalence of goiters was caused by iodine being processed out of table salt. Now it is added back in. The advantage of less processed salts such as Himalayan pink sea salt is that the minerals aren't taken out in the first place, so you consume them in a more natural form.
Uses
Himalayan pink sea salt comes in a variety of grinds for different uses. Very fine grained salt is good for seasoning, grilling or rimming cocktail glasses. Coarser salt can be used in grinders and for spice rubs. You can also buy a slab of Himalayan pink sea salt, to use for serving platters for sweet or savory offerings. The slab imparts a slightly salty and mineral flavor to food. Because it's anti-microbial, you can clean it with a damp cloth. Himalayan pink sea salt is also made into bath products.
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