White salt is an indispensable spice in every Vietnamese meal.However, in recent years, Himalayan pink salt has emerged as an option to replace regular salted salt, which is believed to bring outstanding health benefits.
So what is this salt really special, and is it worth the daily salt?
What is Himalaya pink salt?
Himalaya pink salt is exploited from Khewra salt mine, located near the Himalayas in Pakistan - one of the oldest salt mines in the world.Salt has a characteristic pink color thanks to a small amount of iron and some micronutrients such as potassium, magnesium, calcium ...
The main ingredient of pink salt is still sodium chloride (NaCl) - similar to conventional salt.These minerals were formed from the evaporation of ancient water sources millions of years ago, creating special colors and aesthetic values.
How to use Himalaya Rose Salt
- In cooking: Rose salt can be used similar to salted salt, or used to marinate food.Some people use pink salt to bake, helping the dish more unique flavor.
However, note that Himalayan pink salt has a raw form that often contains less sodium than finely crushed salted salt.
- In health care: Add pink salt to the bath to relax muscles and improve skin condition.Use pink salt lamp to filter the air and create a fresh environment.
- In alternative therapy: Some centers use artificial salts from pink salt to support the treatment of skin and respiratory diseases.
Pink salt can be used to replace white salt?
According to experts, up to now, there has been no effective comparison research between Himalayas and regular salted salt.However, if you want to avoid the additives in regular salted salt, Himalaya pink salt is a great natural alternative.But do not expect the benefits of Himalayan pink salt that you have read from advertising.It is important to remember that the main source of iodine.
Dr. Dang Ngoc Hung (Research and Nutrition Consulting Institute) said: "After comparing the content between normal salt and pink salt, there is a quite small difference in the amount of minerals between them.Every day we only consume 5-10g of salt, it is no different from the usual white salt. Meanwhile, the price of pink salt is much more expensive.
Many people believe that pink salt is very nutritious, containing nutritional values, so they have used bluff, which can cause high blood pressure, causing the burden on the kidneys and other consequences ... ".
Dr. Dang Ngoc Hung said that no matter what salt should limit the amount of salt intake.Do not think that pink salt is good for health and abuse, use too much.
Doctors also recommend that if you are using Himalayas to cook, you need to supplement iodine from other foods such as seaweed, dairy products and fish to prevent the risk of iodine deficiency.
When asked if you have to choose between 3 types of salts: natural salt, iodized salt and pink salt, Dr. Dang Ngoc Hung said he would choose iodized salt.
"Vietnam is one of the areas with high iodine deficiency rates, so the use of iodized salt is a suitable choice. Especially for those who eat soy, cassava, cabbage ... the more cabbageNeed to supplement iodized salt. For people living in the sea, eating a lot of seafood can use regular salt, "Dr. Hung said.