Pink salt is more than a seasoning – it’s a trend. Head to a spa, and chances are you’ll find a salt room, or at least spy a pink salt lamp on the table. Show up at a trendy restaurant, and expect to see pink salt crystals adorning a choice cut of steak.

People claim pink salt works miracles, from providing a health hit as a seasoning, to improving a room’s ‘energy’ and banishing pollution as a lamp. In this article, we’ll investigate the truth behind the hype, to uncover whether pink salt improves upon standard salt with unique wellness benefits.

What is pink Himalayan salt?

Pink salt naturally occurs in the Himalayan Mountains, and the variety on British tables is typically mined in Pakistan. Minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium give pink salt its lovely rosy colour.

Most pink salt is mined by hand, from Pakistan’s Khewra Salt Mine, which is all that remains of an evaporated ancient sea. After it’s been mined, Himalayan pink salt is left relatively unrefined and provides an excellent alternative to processed salts, which can contain additives.

Pink salt vs ordinary salt

Pink salt may be trendier, but is it better for you? We’re going to investigate the merits of pink salt, in comparison with traditional table salt.

Mineral content

Pink salt is the indisputable champion of round one, as it contains more potassium, magnesium, and iron than regular salt.¹ However, these minerals are present in such small quantities that they’re unlikely to give you many health benefits.

Sodium content

Pink salt contains less sodium than table salt.² Although the human body needs sodium to function, too much of it can pose a risk to your heart.³

Respiration

Halotherapy is the practice of sitting in a salt cave and inhaling, which has recently been associated with improved respiratory function. When it comes to improved respiratory function, there’s no evidence to suggest pink Himalayan chambers are more effective than those made of regular table salt.^4,5,6

Good sleep

One scientific study found that individuals who have a diet low in salt experience more disturbed sleep than people who consume the right amount of salt.⁷

Uses of pink Himalayan salt

You can use pink salt as a seasoning or for therapeutic purposes; it can even be displayed as a decoration.

Here are some common uses for pink salt:

• Cook with it. Season food with pink salt, before and during the cooking process, just like you would with regular salt. Steak lovers believe pink salt’s particularly complementary to a good cut of beef.
• Bathe with it. Soak sore muscles in a relaxing bath which includes Himalayan pink salt.
• Relax in salt caves. Enjoy a relaxing halotherapy treatment inside artificial caves, which is said to improve skin and respiratory discomfort.
• Light up a salt lamp. Salt lamp lovers claim they help to improve energy in the room by reducing pollution. Although science can’t confirm this, they sure are pretty.

Last updated: 19 April 2021