Himalayan salt
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Himalayan salt is a marketing term for rock salt from Pakistan, which began being sold by various companies in Europe, North America, and Australia in the early 21st century. It is mined in the Khewra Salt Mines, the second largest salt mine in the world, located in Khewra, Jhelum District, Punjab, Pakistan, about 160 kilometres from Islamabad and 260 kilometres from Lahore, and in the foothills of the Salt Range.
The salt sometimes comes out in a reddish or pink color, with some crystals having an off-white to transparent color. It is commonly used for cooking similar to regular table salt, brine, and bath products.[1]
History
Himalayan salt was formed approximately 250 million years ago in the foot of the Himalayan Mountains.[citation needed]
For centuries, these salts have been the source of income for people on remote villages and towns and people travels just to trade their salts for food and other items. It was deemed as the “King of salt” since it was only available to royalty. It was a valuable salt because of its taste and its ability to preserve meat at a longer duration. [1]
Mineral composition
The bavarian consumer protection agency Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit analyzed in 2003 15 specimen of Himalaya salt sold in Germany and could detect only 8 different minerals apart from sodium and chloride (98%) and states that these salts are coming from Pakistan and may be harmful in the case of arterial Hypertension [2]. German public television broadcaster ZDF presented the analyzed chemical composition of Himalaya-salt made by mineralogist Michael Siemann of the technical university of Clausthal (TU Clausthal Germany) who states that the specimen contained 95-96% sodiumchloride and 10 different minerals. 3% was a polyhalite contamination (known as gypsum) [3].
The book titled “Water and Salt, The Essence of Life”, by Barbara Hendel and Peter Ferreira (in reality German businessman and Himalaya-salt seller Peter Druf [4]), show a different analysis of the chemical composition of Himalayan salts [5] in their own book referencing a non - existing Himalaya Institute of Biophysical Research, Las Vegas [6].
Uses and benefits
Generally, Himalayan salt are used in the same way as ordinary table salt. They are used in bathing purposes, as well as culinary purposes. More recently, large crystal rocks are also used as lamps.[7]
Brine uses
Salt in the form of brine is used in tooth brushing for gum bleeding. Brine is also used to remedy certain skin conditions such as foot fungus.[8]
Food
Himalayan salt are also used the same way as regular salt, food seasoning and some drinks. Himalayan salts are also used as Kosher salt due to having a much larger grain size. It has a subtle difference in taste than regular table salt that some say makes it taste better.[8]
Salt lamps/Tea lights
Himalayan salt crystal rocks are used in making lamps. These large crystal rocks are carved into their desired shape and size. The final shape of the crystal rock are then mounted on a wooden base for stability and an electrical bulb is fixed within the crystals hollow area illuminating the whole rock when it is lit.[7]
Bath additive
Himalayan salt is used as an ingredient in making bath additives such as bath salts, bath bombs, and other related products like scrubs.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Himalayan Salts" Sfbsc.com
- ^ statement Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit in 2003
- ^ http://wiso.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/19/0,1872,2275027,00.html
- ^ http://www.esowatch.com/index.php?title=Peter_Ferreira
- ^ http://www.crystalsalt.co.nz/salt_for_life.htm
- ^ http://poisonfluoride.com/pfpc/html/india_salt.html
- ^ a b "Himalayan Crystal Salt" Himalayancrystalsalt.co.nz
- ^ a b "Himalayan Crystal Salt Applications" Mercola.com