If you’ve taken a cruise down your local health food store aisle lately, then you might have seen something called Pink Himalayan Salt.

This unique salt is different from traditional salt. First, as you probably already guessed from the name, it’s pink.

Second, it’s been linked to a number of extraordinary health benefits, including better pH balance, improved metabolism, and lower blood pressure. It’s been shown to improve your circulation in a way that’s superior to traditional sea salt.

What’s the big deal with Pink Himalayan Salt? Is it actually worth spending a few extra dollars on salt at the supermarket? Let’s find out.

What Is Himalayan Pink Salt?

The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world. They were created when the Indian subcontinent smashed into the continent of Asia. The vast tectonic forces continue to push the mountain range upwards at a rate of a few millimeters every year.

Stretching all the way from Myanmar to Afghanistan, the Himalayas are home to some of the world’s tallest mountains, including Mount Everest and K2. In fact, on a list of the 109 tallest mountains in the world, all of them are found in or around the Himalayas.

We know the Himalayas are big. But what makes salt from this mountain range so special?

Well, Himalayan sea salt is extracted from crystallized sea salt beds found deep within the Himalayas. These sea salt beds were formed hundreds of millions of years ago, long before the Himalayas were as high, frosty, and moisture-free as they are now.

In fact, hundreds of millions of years ago, these sea salt beds were covered in lava. Today, all the world’s sea salt is extracted from sea salt beds, but Himalayan sea salt is the only one known to have been protected by lava.

As the years passed, this Himalayan salt was further protected from the elements by layers of snow and ice. In the upper reaches of the Himalayas, this snow and ice never melts, which is why the sea salt has been protected year-round from environmental pollution and contaminants.

Ultimately, this means Himalayan sea salt is the world’s purest form of sea salt.

Why Is It Pink?

One of the most noticeable things about Himalayan sea salt is that it’s pink. This pink color comes from the salt’s high levels of iron.

More specifically, the red color comes from Iron (III) oxide. This compound is also known as Fe2O3 or red iron oxide. It’s a specific type of oxidation that leads to the dramatic red color.

Beyond iron, there are plenty of other minerals within Himalayan sea salt. In total, there are thought to be over 84 different minerals and trace elements within Himalayan salt, including iron, potassium, copper, magnesium, and calcium. Consuming this salt on a regular basis is like taking a multivitamin: your body is getting many of the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy.

Some Himalayan salt is “pinker” than other salt. You’ll see Himalayan salt with a deep red color, for example, while other salt has a light pink color.

How is Himalayan Sea Salt Made?

Himalayan sea salt is mined by hand from the Himalayas. It’s been a valuable commodity for centuries. Today, teams in Pakistan, India, Nepal, and other Himalayan countries all extract sea salt from ancient sea beds deep within the mountain range.

In ancient times, those who lived in the Himalayas would use this salt to preserve fish, meats, and other foods throughout the year. Today, that salt is shipped around the world.

Himalayan salt is used around the world by holistic chefs, spas, health professionals, naturopaths, and more. It’s prized due to its wide range of nutritional and therapeutic benefits, which we’ll discuss below.

Benefits of Himalayan Sea Salt

So can you really become healthier by eating Himalayan sea salt? Himalayan sea salt has been linked to some surprising benefits, including:

— Better Circulation
— Muscle Relaxation
— Reduced Blood Pressure
— Body Detoxification
— Relief From Arthritis
— Topical Treatment For Skin Rashes, Psoriasis, Herpes, And Other Skin Problems

How Does Himalayan Sea Salt Work?

The benefits listed above have been scientifically linked to certain properties within Himalayan sea salt.

First, Himalayan salt has naturally higher iodine levels, which means manufacturers don’t need to artificially add more iodine into the formula. Himalayan salt also has less sodium consumed per serving because the crystal structure is larger than table salt, which means you’re ingesting more air than sodium on an average teaspoon (the air between the grains is larger because the salt grains are larger).

But the real secret of Himalayan sea salt is its blend of more than 80 vitamins and minerals. Laboratory testing revealed that Himalayan sea salt is made from 85.62% sodium chloride, while the remaining 14.38% consists entirely of valuable trace minerals and elements.

As mentioned above, those minerals include calcium, magnesium, potassium, bromide, borate, strontium, and fluoride.

All of these minerals are required by your body on a daily basis. Consuming this sea salt gives your body the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy.