Regardless of the recognition of Himalayan salt and quite a few well being claims, analysis doesn’t assist most of its purported advantages. Right here’s what the proof exhibits to this point for these claims.
It Comprises Extra Minerals Than Desk Salt
Himalayan salt’s best declare to fame might be its mineral content material. Pallian says it’s true that Himalayan salt incorporates a wider vary and better concentrations of sure minerals than refined, white desk salt. “Particularly, analysis exhibits that pink Himalayan salt incorporates considerably increased ranges of calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, aluminum, barium, silicon, and sulfur, whereas having decrease sodium ranges than normal desk salt,” she says.
However these increased mineral concentrations don’t essentially add as much as a significant well being profit. “Whereas Himalayan pink salt incorporates small quantities of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, there may be not sufficient to contribute to a nutritious diet in a major manner,” says Sarris.
One examine discovered that even variations with the best mineral ranges contributed lower than 1 % of each day wants per teaspoon (tsp), she provides.
Pallian says the quantity of Himalayan salt you’d must devour to see advantages far exceeds each day beneficial sodium targets.
It Might Have Antioxidant Potential
One other extensively touted potential perk of Himalayan salt is its antioxidant content material. Pallian factors to a examine targeted on Himalayan black salt — the less-common type of Himalayan rock salt — that discovered that it displayed substantial antioxidant exercise.
It’s vital to take this analysis with, properly, a grain of salt. “These findings recommend that Himalayan black salt might have some antioxidant potential in laboratory situations,” Pallian says. However lab situations aren’t the identical as real-world human well being, and no proof exhibits that pink Himalayan salt possesses these identical antioxidant properties, she says.
In different phrases, pink salt’s perceived antioxidant advantages stay largely unfounded, Pallian provides.
It Might Have Fewer Heavy Metals Than Different Salts
Some current analysis has linked increased consumption of desk salt with elevated publicity to heavy metals.
Himalayan salt, alternatively, might not comprise as many heavy metals as desk salt. “Some research present Himalayan salt might have decrease heavy steel content material (resembling lead) than sure unrefined sea salts,” Sarris says. “This could possibly be barely safer, although most business salts within the U.S. ought to already meet security requirements.”
It’s price noting, too, that different analysis discovered Himalayan salt contained extra heavy metals than desk salt.
It Might Be Helpful for Individuals Who Must Restrict Iodine
In the US, desk salt has been iodized since 1924 to stop goiter as a public well being concern. Worldwide, about 720 million instances of goiter have been prevented from salt iodization.
However in contrast to desk salt, Himalayan salt sometimes doesn’t have added iodine.
Iodine is a essential mineral, so most individuals profit from iodized salt. Nonetheless, Sarris says a small portion of the inhabitants who must restrict iodine for well being causes (resembling thyroid dysfunction) might do higher utilizing a non-iodized possibility like Himalayan salt.
