Is black salt really better than regular salt ? Know it’s benefits and uses !

Black salt is a popular ingredient used in Indian cuisine. It is left because of its unique flavour that enhances many dishes. There are some claims too that it provides several health benefits. There are many varieties of black salt available all around the globe, but the most common and used one is Himalayan black salt. It’s basically a rock salt that comes from salt mines of Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and other location nearby Himalayas. Black salt is traditionally used since the time of ayurvedic medicines. Ayurveda experts and healers claim that Himalayan black salt has therapeutic qualities.

• How black salt is different from regular salt :

Black salt differs from regular salt, both in composition, taste and colour. Himalayan black salt basically originates as a pink Himalayan salt, which is a type of rock salt. Nowadays, black salt is prepared or manufactured from a combination of sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, sodium bisulphate and ferric sulphate. Before delivering the final product, the salt is mixed with charcoal and heated. So this is the reason some of the impurities remains after the preparation of final product too.

Himalayan black salt offers herself rest aroma. That is very prominent in Asian and Indian cooking.

• Black salt may be lower in sodium than table salt 

Commercial table salt that is generally available in the market has a higher sodium content. Because of much lower sodium content black salt can be a better alternative for people who are suffering with high blood pressure.

• Black salt may contain fewer additives 

Meanwhile, it is also notice that black salt may contain fewer additives than regular table salt. The reason behind this is traditional black salt goes through minimal amount of processing. Table salts are found to contain potentially harmful additives like potassium iodate and aluminium silicate. Potassium iodate may increase fat oxidation, which can subsequently result in tissue damage and increase the risk of various diseases.

• Black salt can improve digestion

It is believed and some of the people claim to that black salt may help in improving digestion. Regular intake of black salt provides laxative effect, which relieves gas and bloating. However, till the date only small amount of researches with no concrete evidences are available. So results may vary from person to person.

So black salt can be considered as a natural alternative to regular table salt. It has a unique flavour profile that enhances the flavour of many dishes. But the thing is, till now very less or no studies are available that provide concrete evidence of benefits of using black salt over regular table salt.