Black salt is currently a very popular ingredient for its distinctive taste, especially in Indian or Asian cuisine. Compared to ordinary table salt, this salt contains a wide range of minerals in addition to iron and, conversely, should not contain such a large amount of sodium. In addition, due to its potential therapeutic effects, it has also been used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.
Although some of its beneficial effects have never been scientifically proven, it is noblack salt is often cited as a healthier alternative to ordinary table salt. That's why I decided to write an article about black salt, in which I would try to introduce you to it as best as possible and explain how it differsand if using it in the kitchen can actually bring you some health benefits.
Black salt and its types
Although this article will focus exclusively on Himalayan black salt, there are two other types besides Himalayan black salt. Before I go into a more detailed analysis of Himalayan black salt, I would like to describe and characterise these three types of black salt at least briefly.
1. Himalayan black salt
Himalayan black salt, also known as Indian black salt or "Kala namak", is by far the most common and widespread of the three. It is a rock salt from the salt mines of Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and India.and many other places in the Himalayas. Despite its slightly misleading name, this salt is actually pinkish brown in colour.
Its pungent taste makes it very popular especially in Asian and Indian cuisine. It should also impart a distinctive smoky flavour to dishes . Vegans in particular also use it as a flavouring reminiscent of the taste of eggs.
In addition to its specific taste, it is also known for its medicinal properties. However, these are not yet scientifically substantiated and their veracity is still in question.
2. Hawaiian black salt "Black Lava"
As its name suggests, this salt originates from Hawaii and was traditionally made from volcanic lava. Nowadays, of course, it can be found in other places as well, and is most often made from a mixture of sea salt and activated charcoal.
Unlike Himalayan black salt, which has a pinkish-brown hue, Hawaiian black salt is actually completely black.
This salt offers a very earthy flavour and is usually used as a seasoning salt, which means it's sprinkled on food at the very end of cooking. In addition, like Himalayan black salt, it should then impart a subtle smoky flavour to the food .
3. Black 'ritual' salt
This type of black salt is often referred to as 'witches' black salt. It should be a mixture of ash, sea salt, charcoal and black colouring. It is, of course, the only one of these three types that is not used for consumption.
Its use is more spiritual, as many people still believe in its magical effects. For us, however, it is completely useless and irrelevant in terms of its meaning and use in the kitchen.
The difference between black salt and common salt
Compared to table salt, black salt should contain far fewer additives. In fact, most black salt is nowadays produced by synthesising the casuch as sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, sodium hydrogen sulphate and ferrous sulphate. This salt is then mixed with charcoal and heated before the final product is produced. In the final result, the black salt should therefore contain sulphates, sulphides, iron and magnesium. It is this composition that gives it its distinctive sulphurous aroma and deep smoky flavour.
In contrast, table salt is highly processed and refined, which means that most of the trace minerals are completely removed in its production. Several different methods are then used to extract it. However, in contrast to black salt, this salt contains substances such as aluminium silicate and potassium iodate. However, these substances can be dangerous to our health.
Possible health benefits of black salt
It is because of the different composition and production method that black lime is so often used as ablack salt is often considered a healthier alternative to conventional table salt. But what health benefits can it offer?
1. Lower sodium content
Common table salt is present in the vast majority of processed foods, and it is moreMore than 75% of our daily sodium intake comes from the salt in these foods.
However,a high-sodium diet is very closely linked to high blood pressure. For people suffering from this problem, a high salt diet can be very dangerous. However, black salt in particular should contain significantly lower amounts of sodium. For people suffering from high blood pressure, black salt may be a suitable alternative.
2. Lower additive content
As I mentioned above, the processing and production of black salt itself is very different from that of table salt. Since minimal processing is required to produce black saltwith little added additives, no health hazards are added to black salt. harmful substances such as anti-caking agents or the potentially harmful substances aluminium silicate and potassium iodate. This is because the latter can increase fat oxidation, which can causedamage to tissues and increase the risk of various diseases.
On the other hand, it should be mentioned that even insufficient levels of iodine in our bodiescan be the cause of many diseases, such as hypothyroidism. The iodine contained in table salt can thus reduce the level of iodine deficiencyiodine in our bodies and thus prevent a number of potential health problems.
3. Other possible benefits
Other possible benefits that black salt can offer us are supported by eitherm or very little scientific research and therefore these possible benefits should be taken with a pinch of salt. However, I still feel it is worth mentioning them here.
As I mentioned above, Himalayan black salt should be compared to ordinarythan ordinary table salt. According to some claims, black salt can then, thanks to its higherthe higher mineral content can positively affect the health of our skin and nails.
In addition, especially in Ayurvedic medicine, it is believed that it canthat black salt can improve digestion or relieve gas and bloating.
OUR TIP: Use salt before exercise. What are the benefits of sodium?
So is black salt really healthier than table salt?
While the answer to this question may seem obvious after the benefits listed above, in reality, this may not be the case.
Black salt may be more mineral-rich and, in turn, less dangerous due to its higher amount ofIt may seem like a much healthier alternative to regular table salt, especially for people suffering from high blood pressure. On the other hand, however, it should be noted that most of the health benefitsthat black salt contains cannot be effectively absorbed by the body. Thus, their higher content may ultimately be completely irrelevant.
In conclusion, black salt may provide somea certain number of health benefits, but many of these benefits are not sufficiently scientifically substantiated. Ultimately, it's up to you whether you prefer to use a higherthe distinctive smoky taste of black salt or the typical salty taste of table salt. Either way, it is important to remember that you should not overdo it with your salt consumption. So I will aptly end this article on black salt with the saying "too much of anything is bad for you".
And that's really it for now. I hope that you have enjoyed this article and that it has managed to introduce you at least a little bit to black salt. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask in the comments.
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