Will Your Health Really Benefit from a Himalayan Salt Lamp?

Himalayan salt is among the natural stuff that have gained popularity, especially among health buffs, in recent times.

Many people claim that seasoning your food with this salt makes it healthier due to its lower sodium content compared to regular table salt. At the same time, Himalayan salt is packed with more than 80 macro minerals and trace minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium which the body needs for cell functions.

Today, you will find many products with Himalayan salt that claim to boost energy, improve sleep, rejuvenate skin, promote healthier teeth and gums, and cure respiratory illnesses, among others.

Himalayan Salt Lamp is flaunted as a good source of negative ions that purify the air by eliminating molds, pollen, bacteria, viruses, and other allergens.

Which of these are true, and which of these are false?

What is Himalayan Salt, and Does It Really Have More Health Benefits than Regular White Salt?

Himalayan salt is a type of sea salt that is extracted from Khewra Salt Mines, located near the Himalayas in Pakistan. Yes, it is sea salt even though it is mined from underground.

The salt rocks were formed when the subcontinent’s ancient seas evaporated more than 200 million years ago. Over time, lava, rocks, and heavy snow buried the dried seabeds until their discovery by Alexander the Great’s army whose horses were observed licking the rock salts.

Salt mining at Khewra Salt Mines is done by hand, using traditional methods. It’s one of its advantages over regular white salt which needs refining and processing that make it lose most of its mineral content.

Himalayan salt is also not just pink. The transparent salt crystal may be white, red, beefy-red, or pinkish due to its iron content. And because it is minimally processed, Himalayan salt contains more minerals.

However, there is an independent study that was conducted by the Nutrition Research Australia (NRAUS) which showed that out of the 31 pink salt samples that they examined, some of them contained lead, aluminum, and other toxic metals.

Furthermore, according to NRAUS CEO Dr. Flavia Fayet-Moore, the nutrient levels of these pink salts were too low. A person must consume six teaspoons of pink salt for its nutrients to make a significant contribution to one’s diet.

“While pink salt may look prettier … there are many healthy ways to enhance flavour and add colour to your meal, such as using herbs and spices like paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, saffron and even pink peppercorns,” said Fayet-Moore.

Does Himalayan Salt Lamp Really Improve Respiratory Health?

Salt has many benefits aside from being a good source of sodium, an electrolyte.

It is useful in both halotherapy and speleotherapy, which help to treat respiratory tract diseases.

But, it should be noted that in these types of therapy, all kinds of salt can be used, not just Himalayan salt, for so long as the salt is clean and the environment is unpolluted.

Regarding Himalayan salt lamp, its promoters claim that its benefits come from the lamp’s ability to purify air by producing negative ions. Purified air enhances one’s mood, breathing, and sleep.

They cite some studies which support their claims, but none of these have yet been proven. Scientific studies must be peer-reviewed for their findings to be established as entirely factual. Theories on therapeutic benefits of any products or drugs must be also tested and approved by the government.

In fact, when it comes to natural air purifiers, charcoal is one of the best options especially activated bamboo charcoal.

Even if you want to use Himalayan salt lamps just for decorative purposes, be careful of fake ones which are plentiful online. You can tell the original through its dim light and fragile nature. Fake lamps may also have defective wirings that can cause deadly fires.

And so, it is always best to be careful.

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