Cooking with Pink Salt: What Effects Does Himalayan Pink Salt Have on Your Body?

Himalayan pink salt is a great tasting alternative to table salt. But it also has other benefits. We look at the positive effects of cooking with pink salt.

Quick — what color is the stuff in your salt shaker? If you answered “white,” and maybe even muttered “duh” under your breath, then it’s time to learn about Himalayan pink salt!

Say what? Yep, this salt is naturally pink. Its color can range from the most delicate pale pink to a rich, vibrant, coral-tinged pink. Whatever its shade, it provides the human body with a host of benefits.

Read on to learn all about these benefits, and we bet that by the end of this article, you’ll be eager to start cooking with pink salt!

What Makes Pink Salt So Special

Himalayan pink salt comes from mines deep beneath the Himalayan Mountains — 5,000 miles deep, in fact! These deposits of salt were formed in the Precambrian Era, some four billion years ago.

In addition, Himalayan pink salt is mined by hand. This helps it retain its incredible purity. It’s not just one of the purest salts on the planet, it’s one of the purest things in general!

Regular table salt is heavily processed. The processing removes almost all of the natural minerals, leaving behind only sodium. Table salt also has some nasty additives, include anti-clumping agents.

Himalayan pink salt, on the other hand, offers over 84 essential minerals and trace elements. These include calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, and iron, just to name a few. We need these minerals in order to stay healthy, but most of us simply don’t get enough of them. And while it’s possible to supplement with vitamins, why not get your minerals from the earth itself, while at the same time seasoning your food?

How Himalayan Salt Benefits the Body

Health experts are only just beginning to fully understand the benefits that this salt provides. The following perks are likely just the tip of the proverbial iceberg:

  • Improved respiratory health
  • Regulation of the body’s hydration levels
  • Balanced pH levels in the body
  • Reduction of the common signs of aging
  • Better sleep
  • Healthy blood sugar levels
  • Improved creation of cellular energy
  • Reduced muscle cramps
  • Ability to better absorb nutrients from food
  • Better vascular health
  • Lowered frequency and severity of sinus and asthma issues
  • Improved circulatory support
  • Stronger, healthier bones
  • Improved digestive health
  • Kidney and gallbladder regulation

Cooking with Pink Salt

Pink salt can be used just like you’d use table salt or sea salt: sprinkled directly on your foods. While you can certainly add it during the cooking process, Himalayan pink salt is ideal as a finishing salt. Try it on simple steamed asparagus, a grilled steak, or a fluffy baked potato. You’ll never go back to ordinary salt!

If you like to make pickles, try pink salt in your next brine. Because the cucumbers or other vegetables you are pickling sit in the solution for so long, they will absorb plenty of those minerals and trace elements.

Pink salt is also perfect for making your own electrolyte-balancing sports drinks. These are a refreshing and inexpensive alternative to drinks that are loaded with artificial colors and flavors.

In Closing

Cooking with pink salt is one of the easiest upgrades you can make when it comes to improving your nutrition. Keep a small dish of this special salt on your countertop, and use it to season everything — or make delicious pickles or homemade sports drink with it.

Have you ever tried Himalayan pink salt? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comment section below!