What is Himalayan salt? Effects, misconceptions, and health risks

Daily use of Himalayan sea salt; The number of people who use it incorrectly, even more than usual, for flavor in meals, detox in the bathroom, even in drinks and diets, to accelerate metabolism, strengthen bones, lower blood pressure, is increasing.

There is a general misconception about Himalayan salt that it is healthy. On the contrary, Himalayan salt can lead to some health risks and problems.

What does Himalayan sea salt contain?

Some personal websites or blog posts claim that Himalayan salt contains 84 trace minerals and elements due to spectral analysis. The problem is that the spectral analysis is done in-house at the salt distributor and is not a reliable source of information for us.

Claims regarding the health benefits of Himalayan salt ingredients should not be considered credible unless a reliable and scientifically documented spectral analysis emerges.

However, in the studies conducted and scientifically reported, Himalayan salt has a similar chemistry to table salt. It is equal in terms of health, most importantly sodium chloride (NaCl) (it is not true that there is no sodium in Himalayan salt, as claimed).

Does Himalayan sea salt lower blood pressure?

There is no evidence or report that Himalayan sea salt lowers blood pressure! It is biologically impossible to have an antihypertensive effect. Because it is chemically similar to table salt and has an increasing effect instead of lowering blood pressure, it is not safe for cardiovascular health.

Does Himalayan sea salt improve blood circulation?

There is no reliable information that Himalayan sea salt improves circulation or has a blood-thinning effect, but unfounded claims abound. Himalayan sea salt increases circulation is no more than an urban legend.

Does Himalayan sea salt reduce reflux?

None of the more than 20,000 studies on acidic reflux mention Himalayan sea salt. So Himalayan sea salt does not help relieve reflux.

Is Himalayan sea salt healthier than table salt?

The major concern with salts, in general, is the sodium they contain. Although some doctors consider Himalayan salt healthier than common table salt, both have the same sodium content. This is the unhealthy part. Everything natural does not mean that it is beneficial for our health. If salt is to be used, provided that it is very little, and if you like its taste, pink salt can be preferred.

What about Himalayan salt lamps?

They are lighting designed with a bulb placed in a large piece of Himalayan salt. Are there any other benefits of these pink lamps inspired by nature? Rumor has it that these lamps attract water and dust from the air. It is also thought to attract cations from the air and release anions. On the other hand, some think it pulls out the negative things and gives backlight, and is good for asthma patients. So is there any evidence? Let’s take a look together:

Are our Himalayan salt lamps beneficial for asthma?

There is no evidence that Himalayan salt is beneficial for people with asthma.

Speleotherapy caves in eastern Europe; salt, radiation, humidity, and air pressure help asthmatic patients spend time underground. However, British researchers concluded that there is no scientific basis for speleotherapy.

Are our Himalayan salt lamps safe?

A question to focus on; wet and salty, how reliable can it be for some conductor to be in direct contact with the electrical source? But can Lamps attract dust like magnets and their microparticles be safe and hygienic to hold? How to clean the lamp in this case? What is the life of the lamp? Such important questions come to mind. But unfortunately, these questions and their answers are not found in the scientific literature.

To see the effectiveness of a treatment, a randomized controlled trial is done like this:

People with medical conditions are included in the study with their full knowledge. They are randomly divided into two groups; Half of these two groups, unaware of which treatment they are receiving, receive active treatment, while the other half receive placebo or sham treatment. Patients are followed up; if the treated group achieves better results than the placebo, the effectiveness of the treatment will be considered. However, there is no such study on Himalayan salt. Therefore, we cannot recommend Himalayan salt to people.

Internet writers also have a responsibility.

There are many sources of information on the Internet. In particular, in health-related web and blog posts, information that is not sure and not based on a scientific source should not be published to harm people. New information and research should be updated in the published articles. Reducing salt in our daily diet is vital in many diseases, especially cardiovascular and kidney diseases. However, discourses such as “harmless salt” and “salt that does not increase blood pressure” make it much more difficult to reduce salt consumption, which is already above normal in society and causes many health problems.

In conclusion, since there is no research on Himalayan sea salt, we cannot and should not recommend this salt. We need to be careful and distinguish the evidence-based modern treatment methods from the alternative treatment methods in the direction of society’s beliefs. Internet writers should also be aware of their responsibilities and take this issue seriously.

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