Written by Jacob Liu | Edited by Kevin Liu
Photo by Marek Kupiec
In the age where millennial pink has become a common shade of even the most ubiquitous facets of our lives, it is a more pointed concern when it comes to our food. Pink Himalayan salt, which is actually commercially mined in Pakistan rather than the actual Himalayas, has become a staple on store shelves as a food additive and is even used to make salt lamps [1]. Many claims are made regarding the benefits of this pink salt, ranging from physical cleansing benefits and improvement of emotional health [2]. Other claims are that the salt can benefit sleep cycles and control blood sugar [3]. Despite these purported benefits, pink Himalayan salt does not actually confer any significant positive effects to consumers. Instead, it could instead introduce the possibility of negative effects, such as contamination with trace minerals that could be dangerous to the human body.
The pink color of Himalayan salt comes from trace amounts of iron oxide and other impurities of calcium, iron, and magnesium. The impurities’ presence means that there is actually less sodium content in Himalayan salt relative to table salt [4]. Although Himalayan salt does contain trace amounts of nutrients, a consumption of over 30 grams of Himalayan salt, or six teaspoons, per day would be necessary in order for the trace elements to have any meaningful contribution to nutrient intake—far higher than the recommended nutritional guidelines of less than 5 grams of salt per day [1]. Additionally, a study evaluating the composition of the salt mined from the commercial salt mines in Pakistan revealed other trace minerals present in Himalayan salt, including arsenic, chromium, lead, and manganese [5]. Consuming over 30 grams of Himalayan salt would risk consuming beyond the prescribed limits of these substances and pose certain health risks [5]. As such, while typical consumption would not be approaching these limits, the consumption of pink Himalayan salt does expose individuals to these unsavory substances. Furthermore, while Himalayan salt is unrefined and thus touted for being less processed, it is not iodized. It does not contain added iodine, which is necessary to combat various thyroid problems including goitre [1]. As a result, the replacement of iodized table salt with Himalayan salt eliminates a major source of iodine from one’s diet and places the individual at risk of iodine deficiencies [1]. Additionally, studies performed on the non-nutritional health claims of Himalayan salt revealed no scientific support for claims related to health benefits of Himalayan salt lamps and the negative ions they release [2]. As such, while Himalayan salt does not pose any significant health benefits, they can actually pose potential health risks for consumers.
Pink Himalayan salt does not actually provide any notable health benefits and is largely popularized simply for its visual aesthetic and purported benefits in that appeal. Further investigation and regulation could be set in place to educate consumers about what they are really eating and urge suppliers to be more transparent about the health benefits of the salt itself. While it is being sold in all shapes and forms, and to that degree is approved for retail, education about the matter could be improved because individuals should have a right to sufficient understanding of what they are consuming.
References:
4. “Types of Salt: Himalayan vs Kosher vs Regular vs Sea Salt.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 19 Oct. 2018, www.healthline.com/nutrition/different-types-of-salt/. Accessed 7 Nov. 2021.5. Hassan, A.U., Din, A.M.E., Ali, S. (2017). Chemical Characterisation of Himalayan Rock Salt. Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 60:61-67.