Salts Worldwide

Salt is everything. This is one of the most useful ingredients in the kitchen. Used in almost all kinds of cooking. There are many varieties of salts that can be found in the market. All of which has its components. To name a few of the varieties of salts, we can include table salt, Himalayan pink salt, kosher salt, sea salt, and Celtic salt. But the most popular, and acceptable for almost all of us is the color white, or a crystalline clear or whitish hue of salt usually the table salt or iodized salt. This is commonly known because of its wide range of uses, especially for cooking. But what if I tell you, that there is a salt that is almost as useful as the table salt, sea salt or whatever salt we are using in the kitchen, but colored pink. This excites the girly sides in all of us. This pink salt is called the Himalayan pink salt. Knowing this unusual trend in cooking makes us think about using the salt, or at least trying some. We are accustomed to using salts like table salts or iodized salt because we are guaranteed with minerals like iodine that adds up to our health regimen. Because of this, questions arise, like is Himalayan pink salt iodized? Let us explore more about this salt and discover if Himalayan pink salt will guarantee us the iodine we usually find accompanied in salts.

Is Himalayan Pink Salt Iodized - Ingredients in the kitchen

First, what is in the name itself? Himalayan pink salts, as the name suggests comes from the Himalayas. They are found in the mines of Himalayas, but these pink salts found in the market are primarily from the salt mines of Pakistan specifically at Khewra salt mine in Punjab. 

 

The Himalayan pink salt is color pink because of the trace minerals or elements found in it. Since it is found in salt mines, it is undoubtedly rich in trace elements that are present in the area where the mine is located. But Himalayan pink salt is just similar to other salts in terms of basic composition. Since it is a salt, it is mostly composed of Sodium chloride. According to Freeman, the pink color of the salt is from the calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron composition of it. There are also speculations about the Himalayan salt containing 84 trace elements or minerals that are good for the body. According to Hall, elements found in the Himalayan pink salt can be considered a very small amount since it is only traces of elements. That is why Hall claimed that there is no evidence suggesting that Himalayan pink salt will give any improvement in health compared to the usual table salt or any other salts. If there are traces of elements that are very good for the body, some of the 84 trace elements are also dangerous and radioactive like radium, uranium, and polonium. Even the thallium which is known for being a poison is also present in the said salt. But then again, it only traces elements that are a very small amount which is not detrimental to the health of a person. Just like any other salts, Himalayan pink salts are composed of 98% sodium chloride and just 2% of which is where the 84 other elements are.

Is Himalayan Pink Salt Iodized - Household Cooking

Even though only 2% of the composition of Himalayan salt is different from the other, it still gives a slight difference in taste compared to the usual salt we often used. Going back to the question a while ago, from all of these mentioned elements, is Himalayan pink salt iodized? First, what is iodine? Iodine is an element or a mineral that is very helpful in body functions. It is used by the body cell’s metabolic processes and organ functions in the thyroid. Some common sources of iodine are fish, sea vegetables, dairy products like cheese and milk and eggs. Usually, iodized salt is used in household cooking because of this processed element added to the salt. Now Himalayan pink salt naturally contains iodine which is, of course, found together with the other 83 trace elements. But, iodine in Himalayan pink salts is way lesser in the amount in comparison to the iodized salt we are using. Iodine can then be supplied from the aforementioned foods if you are readily using Himalayan pink salts in replacement of table salts. 

 

Himalayan table salts like other salts are used in cooking, seasoning and of course for the preservation of food. Apart from that, it is also used as an alternative for salt baths, components of lamps and candle holders, etc. Himalayan salt can be used for cooking purposes and even in non-cooking purposes that is why it establishes another trend with the aid of its pastel color of course. Himalayan salt, on the other hand, is also way more expensive compared to table salts that are why only a small amount of it is used when cooking or seasoning.

Himalayan Salt

Pink Himalayan Salt

The ingredients that make Pink Himalayan Salt a favorite among chefs in the culinary world also make it a replenishing bath salt!

Is Himalayan Pink Salt Iodized? 1

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