|
喜马拉雅粉盐是源自巴基斯坦旁遮普地区，靠近喜马拉雅山麓的一种盐。一些人认为喜马拉雅粉盐是一种最纯净的盐，认为它促进一些健康益处。
但是这种盐确系名副其实的“健康”盐吗？这篇文章将探讨这种异国盐的可能益处。喜马拉雅粉盐化学成分与食盐类似，大约98%部分含钠氯化物；其余部分含几种矿物质，比如钾、镁、钙等等，这些成分使此盐呈粉色。这些成分也使喜马拉雅粉盐尝起来与食盐不同。与食盐一样，这种盐可以用作烹调、调味膳食、保存食物。喜马拉雅粉盐有时也用于佐菜、烹调等等，一些人将喜马拉雅粉盐用于盐浴。也可以购买用粉盐制成的灯和蜡烛底座。钠是见于盐的主要矿物质，身体一些功能需要它。它可支持：粉盐富含矿物质成分，一些资源说，喜马拉雅粉盐含有约84种不同矿物质。 由于盐98%部分是钠氯化物，意味着只有2%是由各种矿物质构成，从而使粉盐正常摄入量得到相对有限的矿物质，这些盐中的少量矿物质貌似不太可能提供可观或显著的健康益处。 一些人相信喜马拉雅粉盐比常规食盐含钠量低，然而，两种盐约98%均由钠氯化物构成。由于粉盐比食盐结晶较大，技术上而言，每茶匙粉盐含钠较少，它也比食盐更有盐味，意味着人们可以少用粉盐而取得相同滋味。然而，粉盐也有更小颗粒的，跟接近于常规盐。在调味食物和计量钠摄入时要考虑到这点。美国心脏协会（AHA）建议，超过75%的钠摄入来自用盐加工和制备的食品中，那么一餐中就不必添加太多食盐。一些人声称喜马拉雅粉盐比食盐更自然，该声称貌似有价值。
食盐通常是精细粉，并掺有抗块结成分，以预防结块，比如如铝硅酸钠或碳酸镁。喜马拉雅粉盐较少人为加工，通常不含添加素。
一些人相信在膳食或饮料中加一撮粉盐，有助于身体获得理想的液体平衡，预防脱水。这是真的，钠对于恰当的液体平衡是必须的。然而，除了喜马拉雅粉盐，钠也源于其他资源。碘是一种身体维持恰当甲状腺功能和细胞新陈代谢所必须的矿物质。含碘盐是这种矿物质的另一种常见来源。美国大约75%的家庭食用含碘盐。 虽然喜马拉雅粉盐可能自然含一些碘，它可能比加碘盐含碘少，因此，碘缺乏者，或有碘缺乏风险者，如果食用粉盐替代食盐的话，可能需要别的碘来源。
虽然钠对于维持生命是必要的，监控任何类型盐的摄入是重要的。钠只需要少量，太多对健康有负面影响。患有肾脏、心脏、肝组织问题的人，或钠限制膳食的人，应该监控其钠摄入，限制所有盐，包括喜马拉雅粉盐的食用。甚至健康者应该监控其钠摄入量。疾病控制和预防中心（CDC）2016年报告指出，超过90%儿童、89%成人钠摄入量超过推荐量。针对美国人的《2015-2020年膳食指南》推荐人们每天钠摄入量少于2300毫克（mg），这相当于每天最多1茶匙常规食盐。高血压患者应该控制每天钠摄入量为1500毫克，咨询膳食专家，做出膳食调整，可限制钠摄入。盐含有40%钠，当考虑到钠摄入量时，了解一定量盐含多少钠有帮助。1/4茶匙盐：575毫克钠 1/2茶匙盐：1150毫克钠 3/4茶匙盐：1725毫克钠 1茶匙盐：2300毫克钠
多数人摄入量高于此。当人们摄入钠高于其所需时，其肾脏试图通过尿液排出多余的钠，如果肾脏不能排出足够的钠，它开始在细胞间液体中积累，称为填隙液。这导致水量和血液量增加，对心脏和血管造成格外负担。盐摄入太多，过度刺激免疫系统，从而导致自动免疫系统疾病，比如复发硬化症、风湿性关节炎、狼疮、牛皮癣。2015年的研究建议：盐摄入量直接与肥胖有关，每日盐摄入量增加1克，导致成人和儿童增加逾25%的肥胖风险。目前，没有科学证据显示喜马拉雅粉盐比常规食盐具有更多健康益处。用喜马拉雅粉盐替代精细食盐可能有助于减少钠摄入，但是也要像其它盐一样，要确保食用适量。Pink Himalayan salt is a type of rock salt from the Punjab region of Pakistan, near the foothills of the Himalayas.Some people describe pink Himalayan salt as one of the purest salts available, and say it boasts several health benefits.But does this salt earn its place among the'healthier' salts? This article explores the possible benefits ofthis exotic salt.What is pink Himalayan salt?Pink Himalayan salt is chemically similar to table salt. It contains up to 98 percent sodium chloride.The rest of the salt consists of trace minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These give the salt its light pink tint.These minerals also explain why Himalayan salt tastes different from regular table salt.People use this type of salt and common table salt in the same way: As part of cooking, to season meals, and to preserve food.Blocks of pink salt sometimes become serving dishes, cooking surfaces, and cutting boards. Some people also use pink Himalayan salt in place of bath salts. It is also possible to buy lamps and candle holders made of pink salt.
Why does the body need salt?Sodium is an essential trace mineral found in salt. The body needs this for a variety of functions. It can support:Contracting and relaxing muscles Maintaining proper fluid balance and preventing dehydration Sending nervous system impulses Preventing low blood pressure Recent research has suggested that eating salt can reduce the risk of infection and kill harmful bacteria. One study on animals has also led researchers to infer that salt may have a positive effect on symptoms of depression.
There are several claims about the health benefits associated with pink salt consumption. These include:Rich mineral content .Some sources say that pink Himalayan salt contains up to 84 different trace minerals.As it contains up to 98 percent sodium chloride, this means that only around 2 percent is made up of these various trace minerals. Given the relatively limited quantities in which people normally consume salt, and the tiny quantity of these minerals in the salt, they are unlikely to provideany measurable or significant health benefits.Some people believe that pink Himalayan salt is lower in sodium than regular table salt. However, both types consist of approximately 98 percent sodium chloride.As pink salt often has larger crystals than table salt, it technically contains less sodium per teaspoon. It also has a saltier flavor than table salt, meaning that a person can use less salt in a serving to achieve the same taste.However, pink salt is also available in a smaller granule size that more closely resembles regular salt. Consider this when seasoning food and measuring sodium intake.The American Heart Association (AHA) advises that over 75 percent of sodium intake comes from the salt already present in processed and prepared foods. Table salt does not add the bulk of sodium content to ameal.Some claim that Himalayan salt is more natural than tablesalt. This claim appears to have merit.Table salt is usually heavily refined and mixed with anti-caking agents to prevent clumping, such as sodium aluminosilicate or magnesium carbonate, Himalayan salt is less artificial and does not usually contain additives.Some believe that adding a pinch of pink salt to meals or drinks can help the body achieve optimal fluid balance and prevent dehydration.It is true that sodium is necessary to maintain proper fluid balance. However, this is true of sodium from other sources as well as pink Himalayan salt.Bear the following points in mind if using pink Himalayan salt:Iodine is a mineral that the body needs for maintaining proper thyroid function and cell metabolism. Great sources of iodine include fish, sea vegetables, dairy, and eggs, among other foods.Iodized salt is another common source of this trace mineral.Approximately 75 percent of households in the United States use iodized salt.Although pink Himalayan salt may naturally contain some iodine, it most likely contains less iodine than iodized salt. Therefore, those who have iodine deficiency or are at risk of deficiency may need to source iodine elsewhere if using pink salt instead of table salt.Although sodium is necessary for preserving life, it is important to monitor the intake of any type of salt. While sodium is necessary in small quantities, too much can have a negative impact on health.Those with kidney, heart, or liver issues, or people on asodium-restricted diet, should monitor their sodium intake and limit their use of all salt, including pink Himalayan salt.Even people in good health should monitor sodium intake. A 2016 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) states that over 90 percent of children and 89 percent of adults consume more than the recommended amount of sodium.The 2015 to 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that people eat less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium daily. This equates to approximately 1 teaspoon of regular table salt per day.Those that have high blood pressure should limit sodium intake to 1500 mg per day. Speak with a dietitian to determine dietary changes that can be made to limit sodium intake.Salt contains 40 percent sodium. When being conscious of sodium intake, it can be helpful to know how much sodium is in certain amounts of salt.Certain quantities of salt contain the following amounts of sodium:1/4 teaspoon salt: 575 mg sodium 1/2 teaspoon salt: 1,150 mg sodium 3/4 teaspoon salt: 1,725 mg sodium 1 teaspoon salt: 2,300 mg sodium
Most people consume much more than this.When people take in more sodium than they need, their kidneys try to remove the excess through the urine. If the kidneys cannot remove enough sodium, it begins to build up in the fluid between cells, known as the interstitial fluid.This causes both water volume and blood volume to increase,putting additional strain on the heart and blood vessels.A number of serious health conditions are linked to high sodium intake, including:High blood pressure Heart disease Stroke Liver damage Osteoporosis Kidney disease
Consuming too much salt might even contribute to autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus,and psoriasis, as it over stimulates the immune system.Research from 2015 suggests a direct link between salt intake and obesity, with a 1-g-per-day increase in salt intake being linked to an increase of over 25 percent in the risk of obesity in both adults and children.At present, there is no scientific evidence to show that pink Himalayan salt provides more health benefits than regular table salt.Replacing fine-grain table salt with crystals of pink Himalayan salt may help to reduce sodium intake, but, as with any other salt,be sure to enjoy it in moderation.
|
