WHAT IS PINK HIMALAYAN SALT?
Pink Himalayan salt is a pink-colored salt excavated from the Khewra salt mines, the second biggest salt mine on earth. It is situated in khewra, Jhulum District, Punjab, Pakistan, about 300 Kilometres from the Himalayas.
Himalayan salt occasionally exists in a scarlet or pinkish shade, and some deposits having an off-white to translucent shade. Many use it in daily cooking just like typical table salt. People usually use Himalayan salt in the same way as everyday salt. Both as bath salt, as well as for cooking purposes.
Pink Himalayan salt comes from sea beds and although many refer to it as a spice, it is actually a mineral. It is a pure, very coarse-grained salt-containing many minerals and trace elements. The pink crystals of this salt vary in color from white to pink to a much darker red hue. This is due to the high amount of minerals and iron.
THE HISTORY OF PINK HIMALAYAN SALT
The story of authentic Himalayan salt began more than 800 million years ago when the shallow sea evaporated, but it was not found until Alexander the Great discovered the deposits around the year 326 B.C. during his Indian campaign. In fact, to be more exact, Alexander did not find the salt: his horses did. When the soldiers found them licking the stones in the area, they tried it out for themselves and shared the discovery.
The taste and healing effects of the salt have been widely regarded since then, but large-scale mining did not begin until the 16th century. The Mughal Empire and then the Sikhs used it for food and trade. It was transported by yak to Central Asia as a popular trade item. Mining was risky, though, due to short tunnels and lack of water inside, so the salt deposits of the sea were never completely explored.
The modern history of the mine started in 1872 when the British took over the Khewra salt mine. Thinking old-school processing methods are inefficient, they performed a full reconstruction of the mine and built factories, and expanded roads, enlarged tunnels, and mechanized salt excavation.
THE EXCAVATION OF PINK HIMALAYAN SALT
Nowadays, the Khewra site is a completely modern mining operation. It covers a full nineteen stories, with eleven of them fully underground. Miners use the room-and-pillar method of mining to decrease the need for outside assistance. This technique entails cutting out only half of the salt and leaving the remainder there as supports to support the several tons of material overhead, leaving the interior looking like a huge pink salt labyrinth.
Given the newer mining methods, the salt still comes out of the mine in rail cars using the same two-foot-wide track that the British built up in the 19th century.
The Khewra salt mine is now one of the most active mines in the world, producing 400.000 tons of pink Himalayan salt each year. That’s nearly half of Pakistan’s overall annual salt supply.
As large as it sounds, however, it is not quite close to exhausting the potential of the deposits. Estimates say that the mine will be able to continue the amount of production for another 350 years without any problems.
WHY COOK WITH PINK HIMALAYAN SALT?
Pink Himalayan salt contains trace elements; balances electrolytes facilitates proper digestion of nutrients, eliminates toxins, balances the pH of the body, and improves blood circulation.
There are many reasons why pink Himalayan salt should be your go-to kind of salt:
Pink Himalayan salt provides essential minerals
The Himalayan rock salt contains certain minerals, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and sodium, to name a few. It contains as much as 84 trace minerals. These trace minerals are responsible for the special flavor of Himalayan salt, which is distinct from table salt.
Pink Himalayan salt is natural and unprocessed
It does not contain any harmful toxins. It is a naturally occurring crystal that is process-free. These natural Himalayan salt crystals contain electrolytes, such as, potassium, which help restore the body fluids.
Pink Himalayan salt is easier for the body to process
Nutrients in Pink Himalayan salt will potentially improve the ability of our gastrointestinal tract to absorb other nutrients. Trading your shaker of regular salt for pink Himalayan salt will help you to better digest your food. Better digestion means you will feel less hungry, which is perfect, particularly for those who want to lose weight. Many believe that, because of its capacity to help digestion, it helps the body divert its energy more efficiently.
Pink Himalayan salt regulates blood sugar level
A daily dose of pink Himalayan salt will ensure the proper supply of fluids to the body. A healthy mineral balance can help increase insulin sensitivity and avoid unexpected blood sugar spikes.
PINK HIMALAYAN SALT FOR COOKING
It is deemed the real gourmet culinary salt of the best chefs in the world. It also brings an attractive pink color and a different texture to the food that can bring something special to your kitchen. This salt is a great ingredient in grilling, roasting, and seasoning.
PINK HIMALAYAN SALT FOR SKINCARE AND BEAUTY
More and more DIY recipes use pink Himalayan salt every day. All-natural deodorants made at home from Himalayan salt are a great alternative to unsafe aluminum-containing products available for the same purpose. This salt has astringent and antibacterial properties that can make it an effective deodorizing agent.
Pink Himalayan salt baths and scrubs improve blood circulation, and relax sore muscles, and also help to remove pollutants from the body.
BENEFITS OF PINK HIMALAYAN SALT LAMPS
Larger chunks of salt are often used to make lamps, which many claims emit calming energy waves into and ions into the air. Pink Himalayan salt lamps are practically an impressive source of freshness. They produce negative ions, which are air vitamins. Many believe that these negative ions have the ability to rid the air of dust, pollen, and dander. They neutralize toxic positive ions around you that are routinely emitted by electronic devices that exist in your surroundings. Besides, salt lamps are excellent relievers of depression, anxiety, respiratory diseases, migraines, and insomnia.
