A different dimension of Salt

Aashish Shrestha
4 min readMar 11, 2019

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Can you imagine a kitchen without salt? Definitely not.

Salt is the most important ingredient in any cuisine around the globe. Saltiness is a basic human taste. Salt contains Sodium Chloride, which is important for maintaining body pressure, absorb nutrients and so on. It also acts as a natural preservative of food.

But is salt only used for food seasoning? No, salt is also used for many other purposes. Bath salts are used for cleansing the body. These salts are used to improve the bathing experience. Similarly, salt lamps are used to create a soothing environment in the bedroom and improve the quality of sleep. They are said to reduce stress and anxiety.

Studies suggest that there are 12 different kinds of salts found in the world. The most commonly used undoubtedly is table salt (also known as common salt). With time, people have innovated new ways of using it. Flavours are added to give food a unique taste. Other ingredients like garlic, Shiraz etc. are also added.

Here are some unique types of salt:

  1. Kala Namak (Himalayan Black Salt)

A pungent unique smell and pinkish grey colour. This is how you recognize the Himalayan Black Salt. Mined from the Himalayan ranges of South Asian countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, this salt has been used since the ancient times for medicinal purposes. Famously known for solving stomach related problems, this salt is used to give a sharp spicy taste to chutneys and salad. For hydration, this salt is mixed with water and the drink is served.

The health benefits of kala namak are:

· Aids in digestion

· Helps to relieve heartburn

· Helps to cure gastritis

2. Himalayan Pink Salt

Benefits of Himalayan Pink Salt

Himalayan Pink Salt is mined from Khewra mine of Pakistan. It is one of the purest rock salt found on the earth. It has numerous health benefits. It is considered healthier than normal table salt. It consists of 85% sodium chloride and 15% trace minerals. Apart from consuming as food, coarse Himalayan Pink salt also has aesthetic value. It is used as a decorative at homes. Himalayan Pink Salt lamps are popular for their positive effects on the human body. The benefits of Himalayan pink salt are:

· Promotes weight loss

· Promotes better sleep

· Removes acne and solves skin related problems

· Provides essential minerals

· Reduces unpleasant body odour

· Acts as a detoxifying agent

3. Red Wine Salt

Yes, you read it right. There’s a type of salt which is prepared by soaking red wine. This is a special kind of salt which gives savoury taste to meat and kinds of pasta. It can also be used as table salt to add rich and sharp taste to other dishes. For preparation, red wine is heated until it turns to a thick syrup. Shiraz wine is the most preferred. The salt is added to the wine and left to dry.

This salt is used to tenderize the meat before cooking. This salt can be ground and used as table salt.

4. Bath Salts

Benefits of Bath Salts

So what exactly are bath salts? As the name suggests, these are the minerals that are dissolved in bath water. Fragrance and colours are added to make them more attractive. These are widely used in spas and other retreat centres. Find out how to use bath salts.

The benefits of bath salts are:

· Re-energizes the body

· Reduces stress and anxiety

· Detoxifies the skin

· Makes skin soft and smooth

· Relaxes the body and helps to stay calm

5. Salt Lamps

Salt lamps

Did you know that salt can be used as a decorative at your home? Yes, it is true. A type of salt called Himalayan Pink Salt is used to decorate home. Salt lamps are the lamps made by inserting bulbs into a carved Himalayan Pink Salt. Apart from having aesthetic values, salt lamps also have numerous health benefits. Salt Lamps release negative ions in the air. Let us first understand what positive ions does to the body.

When the body is overexposed to the positive ions, it causes a disturbance in the regular sleep patterns of a person. Sleep problem is one of the modern human problems. Other problems like a decrease in blood sugar and pressure level are also caused by positive ions.

So what salt lamp does is that it releases negative ions in the air. As a result, a soothing and relaxing environment is created. This helps to regulate sleep patterns and reduce stress and anxiety. The benefits of salt lamps are:

· Promotes quality sleep

· Creates a relaxing atmosphere

· Helps to reduce stress and anxiety

Some other innovative forms of salt are:

  • Activated Charcoal Snowflakes Salt
  • Chilli lime salt
  • Lemon Fennel Chilli Salt
  • Balsamic Vinegar Snowflakes
  • Smoked Merlot Wine Snowflakes

You can buy the varieties of salt from Baker and Baker Salts within Australia.

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