What is Himalayan Salt?
Rock salt is also known as halite, rock salt, or as Himalayan salt in Pakistan. This mineral was formed into crystals when ancient enclosed lakes and seas evaporated. As the body of water evaporated, it left behind its salt content in thick beds in the earth.
Himalayan Salt Mining
There are large pockets of salt beds throughout Canada and the United States, as well as in Pakistan and the United Kingdom. These deep salt beds are mined to remove the salt, providing us with a source of usable halite.
Uses & Benefits of Himalayan Salt
Most commonly, halite is used to melt ice on the surfaces of walkways and roads in the winter. Because salt water has a lower freezing point than pure water, adding salt to the ice can melt the already frozen portions and prevent refreezing. This can help to maintain safe walking and driving conditions, even in sub-zero temperatures. Halite is also used to make salt lamps for decoration and makes large salt rocks used in some cooking techniques. Some clinics will use halite as an aerosol therapy for respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Impurities & Considerations
Unfortunately, when the ancient salt water lakes were evaporating, they also contained other minerals and substances that become trapped in the salt as the water disappeared. Thus, halite is full of impurities, some of which could possibly be detrimental to health. Because of this, it may be preferable to avoid using halite as a food additive, and to use other forms of salt instead. That being said, halite is still often used as a food additive in a number of places around the world. Table salt is a purified form of halite, and is the standardized form more commonly used for eating.
