Is black salt better than regular salt? We tell you

Black salt, known as kala namak in hindi is a commonly used ingredient in many Indian cuisines. Its unique flavour enhances the taste of many dishes. The popularity of salt is also because of the several health benefits it provides.

But is black salt better than regular salt? Read on to know more:

There is a huge variety of black salts available in the market but the Himalayan black salt is the most common one. Himalayan salt is rock salt that comes from salt mines of the Himalayas. It was first used in Ayurvedic medicines due to its therapeutic qualities. Though we call it black salt, the colour of the salt is pinkish-brown.

Different types of black salt

Himalayan black salt also called kala namak or Indian black salt has been known to have medicinal properties. It has a pungent and savoury flavour and is commonly used in cooking Indian cuisines. It is also used in making vegan dishes to provide an egg-like flavour due to its subtle sulphurous aroma.

Black lava salt is Hawaiian salt and it usually comes from Hawaii. The salt has a deep black colour, just like the name suggests. The salt has an earthy flavour and is sprinkled on food at the end of cooking. It makes a good addition to the dishes that have a smoky flavour as the salt itself has a mild smoky taste.

Black ritual salt is also referred to as witches salt and is a mixture of sea salt, charcoal, ashes and some black dye. This salt is not for consumption.

Though there is no scientific evidence, people believe that black ritual salt can protect one against the spirits. People sprinkle it in their yard or keep it in a jar under their beds. Though the practice is harmless, there is no science-backed evidence for the same.

Black salt and white salt don’t just look different but there is a huge difference in their taste as well.

Traditionally, black salt was a mix of herbs, seeds and spices heated at a high temperature. Today black salt is also made synthetically from a combination of sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, sodium bisulphate and ferric sulphate. This mixture is then mixed with charcoal and heated to make the final product.

Black lava salt was traditionally made from volcanic lava. Nowadays it is made by blending sea salt and activated charcoal.

The regular table salt that you use every day is highly processed and refined and most of the trace minerals are removed.

Black salt has less sodium than regular salt

The regular table salt, the one that you find in the salt shaker may have higher sodium content than the naturally derived black salt. Thus, black salt is good for people with high blood pressure.

Don’t forget to check the sodium content while buying the black salt as some varieties may be high in sodium.

The traditional black salt goes through less processing and thus has fewer additives. Anti-caking agents are added to regular salt to avoid the formation of lumps. These anti-caking agents can be harmful to your health.

Some table salt varieties may also contain harmful additives like potassium iodate and aluminium silicate.

However, not all additives are bad. For example, iodine found in table salt is a great effort to reduce the rates of iodine deficiency, which is very common in many parts of the world.

It is claimed that Himalayan black salt contains more minerals than the regular table salt. It is also believed to improve digestion and relieve gas and bloating. Due to the mineral content, the black may improve skin and hair health. Though there is no evidence to support all these claims.

The minerals in black salt are not easily absorbed as they are insoluble. Plus, the black salt available in the market is sometimes synthetically made. But because black salt has fewer additives than regular salt, it might be a better choice.

It’s best to consume salt in moderation, no matter what type is it. No one should consume more than 2,300 mg, which is one teaspoon of salt in a day.