Amazing Benefits of Salt/Namak/Sea salt for Skin, Hair, Health

Salt is something without which we can’t imagine our food. We consume it all according to our taste by adding in our favorite dishes. Any Indian can relate the value of “Namak” in his or her life as its importance is related to the history of independence. It is basically a chemical compound – sodium chloride having the chemical formula NaCl, consisting 40 percent sodium and 60 percent chlorine. Salt is naturally found in sea water and accounts for about 3.5 percent of the world’s oceans. Here we are not discussing the chemical properties of this amazing compound as it has a lot to mention. Its extraction and manufacturing is itself an amazing process. When an sea water is enclosed on a plain, the water tends to evaporate due to the heat leaving behind large crystals of salt. At first this salt is translucent, odorless and colorless. The presence of impurities and minerals in that area give it different colors like white, pink, gray, red, brown, and black.

The salt we generally consume in our food is table salt (refined salt), sea salt (unrefined salt) and iodized salt. For ages it has been used as food seasonings as well as an important method of food preservation. This salt is also used for other culinary purposes like tanning, dyeing, bleaching, pottery glazing, soap. Salt is also used commonly for water softening.

We are here to discuss how a pinch of this condiment plays an important role in human health. We will discuss different types of skin, hair and health benefits of this easily available food additive.

Different Types of Salt

There are various types of salt having different uses. The presence of minerals in them determines the size of their crystals and color. The Most common varieties of salt available today are.

1) Iodized Salt

Table salt as we know it, having additives like iodine and is very beneficial for thyroid patients. The granules of this salt is fine and is mostly used for adding to food. It is also used as an anti-caking agent to prevent lumping.

2) Kosher Salt

This salt is free from additives, coarse grained salt which is made by compacting granular salt. It is mostly used for cooking as it has a softer flavor than the regular table salt. This salt is used as a water softener.

3) Black Salt

Commonly Known as ‘kala namak’ or ‘sanchal’ in Hindi, it has a strong sulfuric flavor as it contains purified lava. This salt is available in ground form as well as lumps and is mostly used in preparation of pickles.

4) Sel Gris

This salt is gray in color and is native to France. THis salt is a by-product called fleur de sel formed when sel gris is allowed to bloom into flowerlike crystals in evaporation basins.

5) Maldon Sea Salt

This salt is similar to fleur de sel and is obtained by boiling sea water. This salt contains delicate pyramidal crystals and has a light, delicate flavor compared to other variations..

6) Rock Salt

This salt is used for deicing and has discrete crystals. This type is often used in ice creams as it is known to bring down the freezing point.

Salt/Namak/Table salt Benefits for Health

 

1. Proper Digestion

Sea salt facilitates quick digestion by stimulating the salivary glands and digestive juices. It also prevents constipation as it helps in the absorption of food through the intestinal tract.

2. Cures Depression

Drinking a glass of salty water at bedtime is very useful to prevent the excess saliva production. By producing the specific hormones- melatonin and serotonin sea salt enables you to deal with stress. Many people face the problem of saliva flowing out of the mouth while sleep which is an indication of Deficiency of salt in the body. Shortage of salt can cause shortage of water in the body and the saliva glands produce more saliva to combat this shortage. Consuming sea salt at bedtime works to prevent the production of excess saliva.

3. Good for Immune System

Sea salt has great antibiotic and anti-viral properties. Consumption of it strengthens your immunity. Thus your body can fight off the fever, flu, cold virus, and other autoimmune diseases.

4. Aids Weight Loss

When we are talking about weight loss we are recommending Sea salt over the regular table salt for this purpose. As sea salt by prevents the water retention and aids in digestion. As already mentioned, the sea salt supports quick digestion by stimulating digestive juices.

5. Prevents Osteoporosis

When you are concerned for your bones and want to keep the bones healthy then you must prevent the deficiency of salt and water in your body. If sodium is not available in your body then the body will consume it from the bones which can result in osteoporosis. It is advised to drink plenty of water and having enough salt to fulfill the quota.

6. Beneficial In Respiratory Problems

By slowing down the production of phlegm, Salt can be beneficial in respiratory problems like bronchitis, asthma and hay fever. For clearing up sinus and bronchial congestion it is advised to take half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water.

7. Beneficial In Diabetes

Sea salt consumption can lower the need for insulin and is highly beneficial for diabetics or prone to diabetes. It helps in maintaining proper blood sugar levels in the body.

8. Prevents Muscle Spasms

Potassium is a vital mineral for the proper functioning of the muscles in your body. Sea salt is a source of this essential mineral. As small amounts of potassium are available in it. Thus sea salt consumption helps in preventing cramps, muscle pains, and spasms.

9. Eradicates Weakness

We will advise you to have a daily dose of salt water if you are suffering from persistent weakness. As per research an individual loses a lot of salt through urine. To maintain the salt levels in the body having a little bit of salt water can help.

10. Maintains Blood Pressure

Urination causes a loss of water and salt. When your body tries to hold salt and water it raises your blood pressure. Here a dash of salt with water will help to overturn the effects of urination and maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

11. Good For Heart

Don’t get it wrong as we are not talking about the regular salt. Drinking of water mixed with Sea salt can reduce high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and regulate an irregular heartbeat. You can achieve necessary protection against heart attacks, strokes, and atherosclerosis.

12. Dental Health

Heard the famous advertisement “ Kyaa aapke Toothpaste mein Namak Hai?” To achieve required dental health salt plays an important role and hence it is often used as an ingredient in toothpaste and oral products. You can make a home-made toothpaste by mixing crushed sea salt with baking soda in the ratio of 1:2 and use it to brush your teeth. You can also make a mouthwash by adding ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon baking soda to a 4-ounce glass of water and use it to rinse your mouth.

13. Improves Mental Health

Salt water baths help in improving mental health. After such bath, you can experience the difference as you will be more relaxed, calm, and happy. Try Bath salts to achieve good mental health as they act as wonderful stress busters. You will definitely enjoy this therapy.

14. Fights Insomnia

If you are facing the difficulty of going to bed then a little dash of salt and water will be helpful. Salt reduces specific stress causing hormones and helps us relaxing. This benefit of salt water will do the magic and will get you a good night’s sleep.

15. Treats Acidity

Salt effectively reduces the acidity and helps to maintain the pH levels of the skin. To reduce the acidity levels in the body, just take a salt water bath, as salt is alkaline nature, they help reduce acidity. Doing this will release the toxins inside our body into the salt bath through osmosis. And the body will absorb the good minerals from the salt.

16. Alkalizes The Body

Sea salt is loaded with natural minerals and doesn’t contain any harmful manmade ingredients, it helps in alkalizing your body. It works well to eliminate the risk of serious life-threatening diseases by lowering the levels of acid in the body. The minerals present in it work to maintain proper electrolyte balance in the body, thus aiding in proper nerve system and cellular functions.

17. Provides Hydration

Our body is made up of 70% water. Salt is needed to sustain the level of water, shoring up extracellular fluid and promoting optimal blood flow. These properties of salt are very helpful in fighting infection. Salt is known to boost the basic function, growth, and development.

18. Decreases Appetite

Did you know that having salt water can help you get into shape. How? when our body doesn’t get the needed amount of salt from our food, we tend to binge on junk food, snacks and promote all sorts of unhealthy indulgences. Consuming little salt water can help to stabilize the salt levels in the body and decrease your appetite.

19. Improves Bone Health

Having a concentrated mixture of salt and water is known to be quite healthy for our bones. Lack of calcium is the main cause of Osteoporosis. Having a glass of this concentrated mixture can help you increase the amount of calcium and other minerals in the blood and in turn promotes healthy bones.

20. Cures Toothache

To cure toothache at home, all you need to do is just mix a tablespoon of salt in a cup of hot water and use this mixture to gargle. Doing this helps to relieve toothache.

Salt/Namak/Sea salt Benefits for Skin

1. Healing Properties

For curing serious skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis Sea salt can be very helpful. It has great healing properties. Bathing in sea salt water will help you to achieve necessary relief from the dry and itchy skin. It also works well in treating eczema and psoriasis. It also helps in quick healing by opening up the pores, improving circulation and hydrating the tissues.

2. Treatment Of Acne

Sea salt is used as an important ingredient in toners, soaps, masks and cleansers to treat acne. It contains both sulfur and potassium which helps to synthesize oxygen and maintains the water balance for cell metabolism. The Calcium present in sea salt works to cleanse your pores, making your cell membranes stronger and magnesium helps in getting rid of dirt and toxins from the skin.

3. Face Exfoliator

For exfoliating, your skin Massaging with a mixture of1 teaspoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt is highly recommended.

4. As A Skin Toner

To reduce facial oiliness you can use sea salt as well. For this, simply fill a small spray bottle (which easily available in the market) with tepid water and mix a 1 teaspoon salt. Mist this mixture on your face. Avoid your eyes.

5. Treatment Of Puffed Eyes

Sea salt also works well in the treatment of puffed eyes. Just apply soft pads soaked in a solution made of one teaspoon salt and hot water.

6. Salt Scrub

Salt scrub does a great job of exfoliating dead cells and improving circulation. It can be used for scrubbing your arms and legs. For this just after shower or bath on your wet skin sprinkle some salt on your palms and rub it gently on arms and legs.

7. Salt As Facial Steamer

Taking a Steam of salt water helps to open up the pores of your skin. For this just Boil 1/3 cup of sea salt in a small pan of water and pour the solution in a bowl. Now using a towel cover your face and hold it over the steam for about 10 minutes.

8. Can Make You Look Younger

Using bath salts regularly in your bath is known to reduce the signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines. It makes your skin soft and supple. Bath salts help in plumping the skin and balancing the skin moisture making your wrinkles to disappear.

9. Aids In Detoxification

Bath salts are amazing to detoxify the skin. The warm salt water works to open up the skin pores. Having a salt water bath allows the minerals of the salt go deep and enable deep cleansing. Bath salts work to remove the harmful toxins and bacteria from the skin, keeping your skin looking young.

Salt/Namak/Sea salt Benefits for Hair

1. For Soft Hair

Sea salt is a great option if you are willing to have soft and bouncy hair. The presence of essential minerals makes it perfect for your hair. Sea salt has amazing healing qualities hence it can heal damaged hair.

2. Adds Volume

To have healthy and natural hair you can mix Epsom salts and your conditioner in equal amounts. Apply this mix only on the roots of your hair. Leave it for almost 15 to 20 minutes then simply rinse off.

3. Anti-Dandruff Properties

Dandruff is never healthy for your hair. To dispose of dandruff, apply pounded ocean salt on the scalp before wetting hair. This will extricate the flakes and additionally empower scalp treatment.

4. Prevents Sweating Of Scalp

To dispose of unwanted sweat, apply some salt spray on the roots of the hair and let it dry. This will absorb up any sweat or oil for the whole day as salt can assimilate dampness.

We are well aware of the importance of iodized salt in our daily diet but sea salt has something more to offer. `Above mentioned health, hair and skin benefits can be easily achieved when you are aware of its usage. And yes, do prevent the overconsumption as it can cause several health issues which you don’t want to face.