Could You Pass The Salt?

Much like water and oxygen, salt is such an integral part of our diet that we don’t often give it much thought past the standard dinner table inquiry of “can you pass the salt?”. But, this essential mineral does much more than just crank up the flavor in your mother-in-law’s latest and greatest casserole! Salt is a crucial part of our diet and has many other health benefits that we are beginning to re-discover in modern times. Perhaps that is why people of ancient times valued salt so greatly that it was heavily taxed, traded, and even used as a form of currency!

Salt comes in various forms from various sources around the world. Common table salt, for example, comes from the saltwater in our seas and oceans. While Pink Hawaiian salt comes from the iron-rich clay soil found in the volcanic landscape of Hawaii. Nowadays, you can stroll down the aisle at your local grocery store and find an assortment of different types of salt, but one has become increasingly popular in the last few years.

Himalayan Pink Salt is the purest form of salt in the world. Mined by hand in the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan, this salt contains 82 minerals found in the human body, and boasts a higher amount of the essential nutrients we depend on salt for such as calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium. Not just a valued source of physical nutrients, the magic of healing that nature provides is evident through this resource. As chunks of this mineral rock are cut out from the earth, larger pieces are kept intact and often sold as salt lamps all around the world. The physiological and environmental benefits that these lamps have to offer have made them a very popular bohemian home décor item.

Besides looking super chic, having one (or several) of these lamps in your home can reduce stress, increase focus, boost blood flow, aid in sleep, enhance overall breathing, as well as deodorize, clean, and purify the air in your home. How does a lit-up chunk of mineral rock do all this, you ask?! Combined with the emission of light inside the lamp, crystals of salt produce negative ions, which neutralize positive ions in the air. In our technology centered society, everyday appliances such as your TV, your cell phone, laptop, or tablet all release positive ions into the air, which can cause an overflow of electromagnetic radiation (EM). Too much exposure to this can cause fatigue, weaken the immune system and increase stress. No wonder diseases like anxiety and depression seem to be spreading like wildfire through our society!

As overexposure to positive ions can decrease blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which can cause irregular sleeping patterns. Negative ions have the reverse effect. They aid in increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which improves concentration, reduces stress and promotes a good night’s sleep. Maintaining a healthy sleep cycle is very important in general, but especially for those who struggle with mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. At the same time that they are working to increase your blood flow, negative ions also pump up your brain’s serotonin neurotransmitter, releasing more of the chemical in your brain that creates the feeling of happiness!

Studies have shown several negative effects that an overabundance of positive ions floating around in the air can have on your health. Cilia, for example, are little microscopic hairs that line your windpipe and act as breathing filters. Positive ions actually decrease cilia activity, making it harder for your body to naturally filter the air you breathe. Negative ions have the opposite effect, therefore helping your system filter unwanted particles in the air and keep your lungs cleaner.

Himalayan Salt Lamps also help to clean and purify the air in your home through a process called hygroscope. The salt itself is a natural purifier, and will actually attract and suck up nearby contaminated water molecules in the air. Things like cigarette smoke, dust, mold, mildew and dander are all very common contaminants we find in the air in our home. Salt lamps are a great addition to the home for people with asthma, bronchitis, or other respiratory issues.

Amongst the already obvious reasons for adding a touch of natural illumination to your home, here is one more to push you over the edge if not already convinced. The soothing ambient light from these lamps are often used as a part of chromo-therapy, or, color therapy. The soft hues of orange, yellow and red are believed to help with attention deficit disorder, insomnia, and promote general relaxation. Himalayan Salt Lamps not only help support our physical health, but can also assist in combating the epidemic of mental disease we are experiencing by promoting balance in physical, spiritual and emotional energies.