Himalaya pink salt is not as magic as you think
Himalaya pink salt is mainly exploited in Pakistan, known for its pink color due to the presence of some trace minerals. However, nutritionally, it is almost identical to regular table salt: containing mainly sodium and chloride.
According to Dr. Sohaib Imtiaz - a medical doctor in the UK: The human body only needs a sufficient amount of salt to maintain electrolyte balance and cell function. Taking too much Himalaya pink salt, just like regular salt, is harmful to your health."
Some common harmful effects of consuming too much Himalaya pink salt include:
High blood pressure: Sodium causes the body to retain water, the heart has to work harder, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Iodine deficiency: Unlike table salt, which has been supplemented with iodine since 1924, pink salt is iodized-free, which can easily cause goiter or thyroid disorders.
kidney effects: The kidneys can be overloaded when they have to remove excess salt, leading to fatigue, edema and irregular heartbeat.
Bloating and edema: Excess salt causes water retention, making the face, arms, and legs susceptible to swelling.
Electrolyte imbalance: Too much sodium disrupts potassium and magnesium, affecting muscles and the heart.
Long-term risks: Osteoporosis, heavy metals and side effects
Not only does it cause a short-term impact, Himalaya pink salt also has the potential to have long-term risks:
Weak bones: Excess sodium causes calcium to be excreted in the urine, making bones thin, brittle and prone to fracture.
Heavy metal: Due to low refining, pink salt can contain very small amounts of lead, mercury or aluminum. Long-term consumption can easily accumulate toxins in the body.
Rewarding the benefits: Many people believe that drinking "pink salt water" helps lose weight, sleep well or reduce stress. But according to nutritional studies, the amount of minerals in pink salt is too small to make a difference.
Nancy LeBrun - an American nutritionist - said that to absorb enough trace minerals from pink salt, a person must eat up to 6 teaspoons of salt per day, six times as safe as the recommendation. This is clearly not feasible and is extremely dangerous, she stressed.
How much salt is safe to eat?
The American Nutrition Guide recommends:
Adults should only consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium/day (about a teaspoon of salt).
The American Heart Association also recommends 1,500 mg/day for a healthy heart.
Meanwhile, Americans average up to 3,400 mg of sodium per day, mostly from processed foods or restaurant dishes.
Himalaya pink salt has a slightly lower sodium content than regular salt (420 mg compared to 582 mg in 1/4 teaspoon), but is still a high source of sodium. Therefore, the most important thing is not to replace any type of salt, but to reduce the total amount of salt consumed.
Himalaya pink salt is not the "medicine" as advertised. Eating too much of this salt can cause a variety of problems: from high blood pressure, kidney failure, osteoporosis to the risk of heavy metal absorption. To protect your health, maintain a moderate amount of salt and prioritize a balanced diet, instead of expecting the miraculous effects of any salt.
