Himalayan Pink Salt – Why It’s Superior to Table Salt

“Table salt is peasant salt.”

I have been quoted saying this. What do I mean exactly? Table salt or sodium chloride is fine, as we all need sodium, but it lacks in many areas including:

• Table salt is stripped of all of its other natural minerals like potassium and magnesium. These are critical to obtaining an electrolyte balance.
• Table salt has anti-caking agents added, like aluminum which can negatively affect health by accumulating in the brain and potentially contributing to the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease. It can also be carcinogenic.

Related - How Much Sodium Do Athletes Need?

Table salt isn’t all bad. I have argued that higher sodium is actually needed in athletes who sweat and need to hydrate. Plus, in addition to other electrolytes, it helps prevent cramping, helps muscles contract, and will help maximize performance. I argue some of these points in this video:

So where do we get our salt? One highly talked about option is Himalayan pink salt. Himalayan pink salt is mostly mined at the Khewra salt mine in Khewra, Jhelum District in Pakistan.

It is pink due to the other minerals in the salt like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. There are science-backed benefits to this salt such as:

• Himalayan pink salt can benefit the immune and respiratory system. It is anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory. [1]
• Himalayan pink salt stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, so it can help improve digestion.
• Aids in muscle contractions and performance.
• Prevents cramping.

Himalayan pink salt isn’t the only option for you. Sea salt is just as good if not better and contains around the same number of naturally-occurring minerals, although the ratios might be somewhat different.

We have seen a huge rush for the Himalayan stuff and rightfully so, it is very good for you and a huge step in the right direction from table salt. But sea salt is a viable alternative.

The current FDA recommendation for total sodium intake for adults is less than 2,300mg per day. This is great for people who don’t move I guess, but for people who exercise and train, this is silly, and potentially dangerous and speaking from personal experience, WILL affect performance.

As I stated in my article The Salty Lie: “Strenuous exercise can deplete 2,000mg sodium per hour. This is a lot of sodium!”

Thus, one easy way to handle sodium is to not stress it and just salt your foods with sea salt or Himalayan pink salt as taste desires. But I want to take it a step further.

MTS Nutrition makes a product called Naturalyte. This is a great addition to your workout beverages pre, during and post training.

As we stated before, you want a balance of nutrients like you find in natural salts like sea salt and Himalayan pink salt. Naturalyte not only uses sea salt, but it adds in potassium, magnesium, and calcium alongside coconut water powder, which in and of itself is an electrolyte powerhouse.

100% naturally sweetened and flavored, Naturalyte might be the most delicious and perfect electrolyte powder ever created and is sugar and calorie free. My recommended dosing on top of salting your food with sea salt or Himalayan pink salt is:

• Pre-Training: 2 scoops in 16-32 ounces of water.
• During Training: 2 scoops in 16-32 ounces of water
• And feel free to flavor your water with it throughout the day.

The bottom line is, enjoy salt, it’s good for you! But choose your salt wisely and opt for sea salt or Himalayan pink salt when you can!

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