Is Himalayan Salt Healthy?

Is Himalayan Salt Healthy?

Welcome to the first in a series of Boulder Salt Company discussions about the ingredients of popular salts on the market, and which of those ingredients actually contribute to health. We begin with the question many ask: Is Himalayan salt healthy? To answer this question let’s start by contemplating what makes a healthy salt.

So What Makes Up A Healthy Salt?

Of the roughly 15 minerals that our bodies require, half of them also function as electrolytes. Those minerals that function as electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, and bicarbonate. The balance of these electrolytes is very important. These electrolytes are the foundation of a healthy salt. The ingredients in a healthy salt are few compared to what is found in Himalayan salt. Having the correct ratio of these ingredients is critical to achieving excellent taste and providing a healthy salt. This delicate balance is not found anywhere in nature, it must be created from nature.

The balance of these electrolytes is very important. These electrolytes are the foundation of a healthy salt. The ingredients in a healthy salt are few compared to what is found in Himalayan salt. Having the correct ratio of these ingredients is critical to achieving excellent taste and providing a healthy salt. This delicate balance is not found anywhere in nature, it must be created from nature.

Low sodium does not improve the healthiness of salt. Instead, the most important factor is the presence of potassium and other electrolytes in the right ratio. It is this balance of electrolytes that makes up a healthy salt. So a healthy salt must have all of the key electrolytes our bodies require, in ratios that are similar to what our bodies need, is free of unnecessary contaminants, and tastes good.

What is Himalayan Salt?

As the name suggests, Himalayan salt is sourced near the Himalayan mountains in Pakistan. With a distinctive pink color, Himalayan salt has become very trendy in recent years, with many people claiming it has increased health benefits versus regular salt.

The main reason for this belief is the large number of minerals and trace elements that can be found in Himalayan salt. This has led to many health claims and Himalayan salt has come to be seen as a superior, healthy alternative to regular table salt.

So, what minerals are in Himalayan salt, and is it actually more healthy?

Is Himalayan Salt Actually Healthy?

Himalayan salt ingredients include 80-some minerals, so over 65 of these are either harmful or are not helpful.

According to Harriet Hall, M.D. of The Society for Science-based Medicine:

“Only about a quarter of the minerals in Himalayan pink salt are nutrients that the human body can or might be able to use. The other three quarters are not recognized as nutrients and would be better classified as contaminants. They have no known health benefits, and many of them are known to be harmful. The list includes many poisons like mercury, arsenic, lead, and thallium. Himalayan salt ingredients also include radioactive elements: radium, uranium, polonium, plutonium, and many others.”

Himalayan salt may look attractive and it may have a pleasing taste. However, it has most of the drawbacks of common table salt and more. Enjoying Himalayan salt on special occasions is not likely to cause trouble, but the cumulative effect of using it regularly is a different story.

As many nutrition experts and doctors have written, Himalayan salt is no more healthy than common table salt. We believe that Himalayan salt contains toxic and radioactive minerals that make it more hazardous when used over time. The table below compares the basic ingredients of Table Salt, Himalayan Salt, and Boulder Salt.

 

Sodium

Chloride

Magnesium

Calcium

Potassium

Bicarbonate

Table Salt

39.10%

60.80%

0.00%

0.01%

0.09%

0.00%

Himalayan Salt

36.80%

62.64%

0.10%

0.18%

0.28%

0.00%

Boulder Salt

22.00%

34.00%

9.00%

5.00%

9.00%

21.00%

Himalayan Salt Electrolyte Content

The reasons Himalayan Salt is not healthy are that its electrolyte content is far from balanced and many minerals in Himalayan salt are harmful or unnecessary. Himalayan Salt is not that healthy, and there is one great healthy salt alternative.

Boulder Salt is a revolutionary healthy salt alternative. It is actually a formulated mixture of high purity salts developed with health and taste in mind. No other salt on the market that has biologically meaningful levels of not only sodium and chloride, but potassium, magnesium, calcium, and bicarbonate. It is the first truly healthy salt that you can use every day with confidence!

Next time we will take a look at Sea Salt.

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Bring your salt questions to the experts at Boulder Salt!

The Minerals You Need are in Another Salt

Salt is all about the balance of minerals it gives your body. Too much of the wrong ones, and it can harm your health, but the right balance of vital minerals, and it can be a healthy and necessary part of your diet. Boulder Salt is formulated to limit your sodium intake (which gives salt its bad headlines), and maximize other minerals such as magnesium and potassium.

It is the first truly healthy salt that you can use every day with confidence, so learn more about it!

Next time we will take a look at Sea Salt .

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Woman sweating while lifting weights
Performance Questions
How is Boulder Salt different from other salt products meant for athletes?

Most performance related salt products on the market are close to 100% sodium. Our bodies need a variety of electrolytes to perform at optimal levels – not just sodium. Boulder Salt provides a robust, alkaline blend of electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. And in a combination that approximates what should naturally exist in the body. This ratio can help athletes optimize their performance. 

It varies depending on your activity level and sweat rate. In general 4 servings is common for everyday use, up to 6 servings for endurance athletes.

If you are under the care of a physician for a medical condition, consult your doctor first.

Boulder Salt is unique in that it can be taken alone, added to water, or mixed with other beverages to up their electrolyte value. It also gives you the option to make your own sports drink – adding flavors and/or sweeteners that work for you.

Can I mix Boulder Salt with my sports drink? Or add it to just plain water?

Yes. If you’re looking to enhance your electrolyte levels, Boulder Salt® is an ideal way to do so! It can be added to both water and sports drinks. You will likely be surprised at how mellow it tastes in water alone. And it will not significantly alter the taste of most beverages. However, Boulder Salt is alkaline, so if you add it to an acidic sports drink (which many are), you can expect to see the drink temporarily “bubble” or foam-up.

Athletes have used Boulder Salt® during all phases of a competitive event – whenever they are accustomed to drinking water or another sports drink. It’s balanced level of electrolytes make it an ideal addition to your electrolyte replacement regime. It can help you shore up electrolytes, hydrate quickly and help prevent or eliminate cramping.


If you are undergoing treatment for a medical condition, consult your physician.

Boulder Salt® is a soft, mellow-tasting salt. The varying size and shapes of different salts provide a unique taste experience. The tiny calcium and magnesium salts, which are very mild tasting, cover the surface of the sodium and potassium crystals and provide for a mellowing of the familiar “bite” of those salts.

Vegetables are even healthier with Boulder Salt.
Health Related Questions
Is Boulder Salt a good way to reduce sodium in my diet?

Yes. Boulder Salt® has nearly ½ the sodium per serving than traditional table salt. And it has a ratio of potassium to sodium, that helps the body maintain a healthy blood pressure.

YES! Boulder Salt® is much lower in sodium chloride than traditional table salt , sea salt, and Himalayan pink salt – which are all over 95% sodium, making Boulder Salt a much healthier alternative!

Alkalinizing the body means means shifting your body from an acidic state to a more neutral or alkaline state. Our normal state of being should ideally be slightly alkaline.
However, environmental factors, stress, a diet low in fruits and vegetables or high in meats and other processed foods, and especially carbonated drinks, can all push our systems into an acidic state. When your body is closer to an alkaline state, you’ll experience fewer illnesses, be better prepared to fight off disease, and simply feel better. Unlike traditional table sale and sea salt, Boulder Salt® is alkaline.

General Questions
Can Boulder Salt be used in place of other salts in cooking and baking?

Absolutely! Boulder Salt® can be used as a 1:1 replacement for any other salt in food preparation, baking and cooking.

 

Boulder Salt® looks different from other salts due to the fact that it is made up of a variety of salts, rather than just one type. Both the chemical composition as well as the particle sizes of the various salts used in Boulder Salt® are different. If you looked under a microscope, you’d see that some of the salts look like “boulders”, while others are much smaller. 

Where does Boulder Salt come from?

The ingredients in Boulder Salt are chosen based on purity, not location. We take 4 different salts and blend them together in a particular ratio to make Boulder Salt. We only use pharmaceutical grade or USP grade salts. Our levels of lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic are incredibly small compared to pink, grey, or other colored salts.

1/4 Teaspoon of “regular salt” weighs 1.5g while 1/4 Teaspoon of Boulder Salt weights 2.0g (more dense). Once this difference in density is taken into account, the 40% difference can be shown. For example: A typical brand of salt shows 585 mg. of sodium in 1/4 tsp. (1.5g).

The sodium in 2.0g is given by 585 x 4/3 = 780mg How much less sodium is in Boulder Salt is given by: 780-480=300 300/780 = .385 or 38.5% less (rounds to 40%) 

Boulder Salt has nearly half the sodium of traditional table salt and sea salt. It also has potassium, magnesium and calcium – salts that are all critical on a biological level. (Traditional table salt is 99% sodium). Boulder Salt looks a bit different too, It has a finer texture than most other salts on the market and a more mellow taste.

How much Boulder Salt should I put in my water, or other beverage of choice?

The precise amount of Boulder Salt® to add to your drink depends on your sweat rate. One quarter teaspoon in a 17-20 oz drink is the recommended starting point.

The material you see that doesn’t dissolve is related the larger particle size of magnesium and calcium. It’s around 4% of the total. These particles do readily dissolve when they are exposed to an acidic environment such as in the stomach. They will dissolve right away if you keep them agitated/stirred up and drink the water with them suspended in it.

Boulder Salt® looks different from other salts due to the fact that it is made up of a variety of salts, rather than just one type. Both the chemical composition as well as the particle size of the various salts used in Boulder Salt® are different. If you looked under a microscope, you’d see that some of the salts look like “boulders”, while others are much smaller.

Why doesn't Boulder Salt have iodine?

We do plan to offer our product in the future, with iodine. Our current formulation does not have iodine because it tends to have a metallic taste when added to water. If used simply on foods, it does not have that strong of an aftertaste. The current formula of Boulder Salt® is intended to be used in both water and on food.

In this video Dr. Ahmed Stowers explains the role that Boulder Salt® plays in his treatment of dehydrated patients.

Boulder Salt® is available here on our website, on Amazon, and in several states including California, Colorado, Hawaii – Kona,  Massachusetts.

Do you offer bulk discounts?
Yes, we are happy to offer discounted pricing on bulk orders. Just contact us or send us an email with your requirements and we’ll give you a call by the next business day!

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We currently ship to Australia, Canada and New Zealand.