What is Black Salt?
Black salt, also known as kala namak or Himalayan black salt, is found in India. It comes from the salt mines of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and other Himalayan locations. Black salt was first used in Ayurvedic medicine for its holistic, therapeutic properties. It is filled with minerals that are insoluble, making them harder to be absorbed by the body.
Forms
Black salt is found in several forms, but the most common forms are:
- Himalayan Black Salt (Kala Namak): A pinkish-black salt known for its sulfurous aroma, commonly used in Indian dishes and Ayurvedic medicine.
- Indian Black Salt: A variety of Himalayan salt, rich in minerals and used in traditional Indian cooking and snacks.
- Rock Black Salt: Unprocessed, large crystal form, often ground before use in cooking or remedies.
- Powdered Black Salt: Fine, ready-to-use form, convenient for seasoning and cooking.
- Granulated Black Salt: Coarser than powdered, often used in rubs or for finishing dishes.
- Black Lava Salt: Sea salt infused with activated charcoal, offering a distinct smoky flavor, often used as a finishing salt.
Health Benefits
Here are the health benefits of black salt:
Digestion
Black salt helps your liver make bile and improve the body’s fat-soluble vitamin absorption in the small intestine which helps you in digestion.
Reduces Heartburn and Bloating
Black salt stimulates bile production in the liver, and helps control heartburn and bloating. It restricts acid levels and reduces reflux. A pinch of salt can reduce the formation of gases and limit bloating and flatulence.
Regulates Blood Pressure
If you are suffering from hypertension, add more black salt to your diet.
It is often recommended by doctors to replace white salt with kala namak, when you have high blood pressure. Study shows that black salt serves as a natural blood thinner, and it regulates blood pressure. Caution is necessary, though. You shouldn’t take too much black salt as it can interfere with blood pressure.
Muscle Cramps
Sometimes, when you are dehydrated, you may suddenly wake up from your sleep with a muscle cramp in your calf muscles, or an extra strain on your leg muscles.
Potassium, a mineral available abundantly in the black salt aids in the proper functioning of muscles and prevents sudden painful cramps.
Heart Health
Black salt helps in thinning the blood and can be good for people who have cholesterol issues. However, people with high blood pressure should not intake a lot of black salt (no more than 3.75 grams per day).
Weight Loss
Black salt for weight loss is an excellent addition to your diet when you are supposed to reduce your sodium intake while also avoiding water retention and bloating.
Skin Healing
Black salt benefits for skin: Its large contents of essential and beneficial minerals benefit the skin. If you have cracked skin, you can add black salt to lukewarm water and soak the affected area. This will help heal your skin naturally.
Healthy Hair
You can get shiny, lustrous and damage-free hair by using black salt regularly. All the essential minerals in the ‘Namak’ help in repairing split ends, reducing dandruff, and also in controlling excessive hair fall.
Is Black Salt healthier than Normal Salt?
Black salt is often seen as a healthier option than regular table salt because it has less sodium and more natural minerals like iron, potassium, and magnesium. These minerals are usually removed from regular salt. Black salt also helps with digestion, making it good for problems like bloating and acid reflux. Unlike regular salt, it doesn’t have added chemicals. However, it’s important to use both types of salt in small amounts, as too much can still cause health issues like high blood pressure.
Side Effects
Here are some potential side effects of black salt:
- High Sodium Content
- Electrolyte Imbalance
- Acidic Impact
- Water Retention
- Kidney Issues
