Himalayan Salt Origins

Himalayan Crystal Salt is mined by hand from deep within the Himalayan Mountains, the tallest mountain range in the world. The Himalayan mountain range spans across Asia, and passes through China, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and India. This crystalline salt was probably formed thousands of years ago in Old Testament times when the upheaval of minerals and earth once laying at the bottom of the earth’s ocean floors was thrust upwards to form these majestic mountains. Kept in a pristine environment that is surrounded by snow and ice year round, this salt would not be affected by the pollution now present in most of the world’s seas and oceans where sea salt is produced. Many people believe that Himalayan pink salt is the purest salt that can be found on earth.

Health Benefits

Himalayan Salt contains the same 84 trace minerals and elements that are found in the human body. A complete list of the minerals and their respective concentrations can be found here.  The minerals in this salt exist in colloidal form, which means that they are small enough for our cells to easily absorb.  Some of the benefits that you can expect to enjoy by consuming this salt in place of regular table salt include:

• Aids in vascular health
• Supports healthy lungs and respiratory function
• Promotes a stable pH balance within the cells
• Reduces acid reflux
• Reduces the signs of aging
• Promotes healthy sleep patterns
• Increases libido
• Prevents muscle cramps
• Increases hydration
• Strengthen bones
• Lowers blood pressure
• Improves circulation
• Stimulate the absorption of nutrients
• Improve bone structure
• Detoxifies the body of heavy metals

Why Himalayan Salt is Better than Table Salt

Regular, commercial table salt is completely stripped of the majority of its minerals with the exception of sodium and chloride. It is then bleached, cleaned with chemicals, and then heated at extremely high temperatures. The iodine that is added to table salt is almost always synthetic, which is difficult for our bodies absorb properly. It is treated with anti-caking agents, which prevents the salt from dissolving in water and clumping in the salt container. These agents then prevent the salt from absorbing into our own bodies, which leads to a buildup and deposit within the organs. This can cause severe health problems. Studies have shown that for each gram of table salt that is consumed that the body cannot process, your body will use 20 TIMES the amount of cellular water to neutralize the amount of sodium chloride that is present in this chemically treated salt.

This is largely the reason why salt has gotten such a bad name over the years. It is not necessarily salt that is unhealthy for us, but rather refined table salt that is inferior for our health. Aside from that, many of us are consuming way too much processed food. These foods contain astronomical amounts of salt, and it isn’t the good kind. It’s not about limiting our intake of salt; it’s about consuming more natural, homemade, whole foods. This way we can add salt while cooking or sprinkle some on our meals without having to worry about high blood pressure and so on.  Choosing to use Himalayan Salt as an alternative can have a big impact on your total health and well-being.

Himalayan Salt Uses

Air purification ­— Himalayan Pink Salt Lamps  Probably the most well-known benefit – and why the majority of people use them – is due to their incredible power to remove dust, pollen, cigarette smoke, and other contaminants from the air. Himalayan salt lamps purify air through the power of hygroscopy, meaning that they attract water molecules from the surrounding environment then absorb those molecules – as well as any foreign particles they may be carrying – into the salt crystal. As the Himalayan pink salt lamp warms up from the heat produced by the light bulb inside, that same water then evaporates back into the air and the trapped particles of dust, pollen, smoke, etc remain locked in the salt. When the Himalayan salt lamp heats up and begins its hygroscopic cycling of airborne particles, it also changes the charge of the molecules which are released. The majority of homes are filled with positively charged ions which aren’t particularly good for a person’s health. The positive ions are created by a number of things, but the primary source for most of us is from our electronics.

One of the health detriments of breathing lots of positive ions in the air is that the cilia (microscopic hairs) which line the trachea (aka: windpipe) become sluggish and don’t work as well to keep contaminants out of our lungs. As a Himalayan pink salt lamp absorbs water and particles from the air, it also takes positive ions with them. Then, when the heated salt releases cleansed water vapor back into the air, it also expels negative ions which have the opposite effect on our airways – increasing cilial activity to keep your lungs clear.

What all this means in a nut shell: Besides removing contaminants from the air, Himalayan pink salt lamps also help your body to filter air more efficiently so any foreign particles you do happen to breathe won’t make it into your lungs.

Bathing/Soaking — Salt and mineral baths are a great way to relax at the end of the day while simultaneously infusing the skin and body with minerals and hydration.  Through the process of dermal absorption, skin soaks up minerals from the water – often better than if the same minerals were consumed internally.  Because it contains so many of the different minerals our bodies need to stay healthy, when it comes to the best things to put in your bath water,  Himalayan pink salt is at the top of the list.

A warm bath infused with Himalayan pink salt is also great for relaxing cramped muscles.  The magnesium and some other trace minerals found in Himalayan pink salt absorb through the skin to help heal damaged muscle and other soft tissues.  Minerals in HPS also work to fortify bones, skin, and connective tissues that may contribute to body soreness in other ways.

When Himalayan pink salt is added to a bath of warm (preferably about the same as body temperature) water, it not only provides much needed nutrients to your body, but it also works as a powerful detoxifier.  When dissolved in water, Himalayan pink salt becomes an ionic solution that helps to draw the toxins out of skin and adipose tissues.  This process combined with the healing mineral infusion offered by a good Himalayan pink salt soak will leave you feeling refreshed and energized.

Himalayan Pink Salt Cooking Blocks — Cooking on a Himalayan pink salt block naturally imparts the incredible health benefits of Himalayan pink salt into your food. Such health benefits include balancing your body’s pH, stabilizing hydration levels, improving digestion and reducing acid reflux. Of course, the amount of salt that is absorbed depends on a number of factors – moisture level, thickness and oil content of the food being prepared, as well as the temperature of the block being a few of the major determinants.Slabs will impart a better taste and mineral content. Chilled: use fruits, sushi, veggies, or cheese as a decoration. Frozen: cold delicious desserts and sorbets. Heated: slabs can be used to sear veggies, shrimp, fish fillets, and thinly sliced beef, and you can even fry eggs. Dense salt blocks conduct heat amazingly, and retain the heat for a long time.  You can warm them in the oven, heat them in a pan or directly on a grill. What is even better, Himalayan salt is a natural anti-microbial product, and the clean up requires only a simple scrub or rinse. Learn more about cooking on Himalayan pink salt slabs here.

Himalayan Pink Salt Lamps, Candle Holders, Cooking Slabs, Bricks, Salt Grinders, Bath Salts, and more are available at SPIRO!