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Magnesium is crucial for regular heart function as well as for all our muscles and the digestive system. Deficiency of magnesium can lead to constipation. Dr. Bernard Jensen, one of the great pioneers of nutritional medicine, called magnesium “nature’s laxative”. Insufficient magnesium also puts the body into a stress response state, evidenced by increased adrenalin production. Having enough magnesium in one’s diet is thus an important factor in dealing with stresses of life. It is also helpful in preventing symptoms of depression. One reason depressed people can easily become addicted to chocolate is high magnesium content, although there are better sources of this important mineral.

Potassium

Potassium will alkalize the interior of our cells. Even with the best acid-alkaline balance in the blood, one can still suffer from acidosis (too much acidity) within cells if there is a deficiency in potassium. Refined salt throws off the sodium-potassium balance in the body, especially in the context of a diet that is high in meat and cheese and low in fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. Potassium deficiency is most likely a major contribution to heart disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and lack of concentration and sleep disorders. High quality potassium from fresh fruits and vegetables and Himalayan Pink salt rejuvenates the cells and clears the mind.

Many experts in the field of whole food nutrition agree that diet consisting largely of whole, natural foods can in most cases supply adequate vitamins for great health, but that minerals are commonly deficient even in such healthy diets.

Calcium

Calcium builds our bones and cartilage and relaxes muscles. Sufficient calcium is crucial for the flow of electrical energy through the body. Calcium combines with phosphates in and around cells to form an alkaline blend in which life can happen. Ionic calcium is also the most important transport vehicle to bring other nutrients into the cell. The quality of the calcium we take in appears to be far more important than sheer quantity. Calcium deficiency is common even among people on diets high in calcium or on calcium supplements if the quality is low. Dairy products and refined salt lead to calcium losses in the body, as do meat products. It is interesting to note that the United States has the highest average calcium intake per person yet also the highest rate of osteoporosis in the world. This clearly shows that just increasing calcium intake and disregarding quality will do little or nothing to prevent calcium deficiency. The use of Himalayan Pink salt instead of refined salt and the inclusion of fresh green leafy vegetables in the diet are the most potent measures to improve your calcium balance.

Boron

Overlooked for a long time by nutritional science, boron has been the focus of much research in recent years. Since there is no common agreement on the required daily dosage of boron, it is unknown if the average American intake of 4-5 mg per day is sufficient. Research clearly indicates that it is not. Boron is essential for the use of calcium and magnesium in the body. Vitamin D, which is necessary to incorporate calcium into the bones, cannot function without boron. Although vitamin D is made through the absorption of sunlight by a cholesterol derivative, it then needs to be transformed into more potent forms in the liver and kidney. These transformations require boron. Most people who suffer from osteoporosis have high amounts of basic vitamin D (cholecalciferol) but very low levels of the most potent form of vitamin D (1, 25- dihydroxycholecalciferol) in the body, clear indication of boron deficiency.

Refined foods of any kind, including refined salt and the lack of fresh fruits, vegetables, and natural unrefined salt make it difficult if not impossible to supply the body with adequate amounts of boron. A dietary shift towards more whole, unrefined foods is necessary if we want to benefit from the health enhancing effects of this important trace element.

Zinc

Zinc is the most important mineral in regards to enzyme function and hormone balance in the body. More than 200 enzymes contain zinc. Sex hormones, thymic hormones, insulin and growth hormone also depend on zinc. While a severe zinc deficiency is rare, many people in industrialized countries suffer from chronic low- grade zinc deficiency. Contrary to often-made statements, vegetarians do not suffer from zinc deficiency more often than meat eaters. There is plenty of usable zinc in whole plant foods, especially in nuts and seeds. The rumor that it is not absorbable because of the phytic acid content in these foods has been disproved many times. Consumption of whole, unrefined foods are the best way to guarantee adequate zinc intake.

Manganese

Manganese was discovered to be an essential nutrient in 1931, when researchers linked poor growth and impaired reproduction to manganese deficiency. Calcified deposits in the inner ear, also known as otoliths, can result from manganese deficiency and lead to balance problems. The increase of poor physical coordination in children might be related to low levels of manganese.

Osteoporosis and tooth decay are also related to low manganese supply. If sufficient manganese is consumed, broken bones heal faster, allergies are reduced and arthritis can be treated more effectively. Another important aspect of manganese is its role in enzyme SOD (Super Oxide Dismutase), one of the most powerful antioxidants within the human body. With properly functioning SOD, our cells are much more protected from free radical damage and inflammation.

Manganese is abundant in nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetables. Himalayan Pink salt and other unrefined salts supply manganese in balance with other minerals, while refined salt contains no manganese. Animal products like meat and dairy are also poor sources of manganese.

Copper

Copper is an important part of immune cells, of numerous enzymes, and is necessary for proper iron absorption and utilization. Low levels of copper can lead to functional iron deficiency, in which enough iron is taken in but not properly utilized. Copper is also necessary for the function of lysyl oxidase, an enzyme that builds connective tissue and cartilage. Joint problems, ruptured blood vessels, spider veins and other symptoms of poor collagen integrity can thus be the result of copper deficiency. Sometimes copper deficiency is caused by one-sided high dosage supplements such as high dosages of isolated vitamin C. It is always best to get ones mineral supply from balanced whole food sources and from supplements that are concentrated whole foods.

Iron

Iron is the central atom of our red blood cells, necessary for oxygen transport. Detoxification also depends on the functioning of red blood cells. While quantitative iron deficiency is rare, functional deficiency is quite common. More iron is not the answer, but the right type of iron, derived from whole food sources. Hematite, a form of iron oxide that gives Himalayan Pink salt its orange to pink colour, is the most usable form of iron. Of all mineral deficiencies, iron and sodium deficiencies are the easiest to correct simply by taking in small amounts of Himalayan Pink salt.

Selenium

Selenium is an essential part of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which protects cell membranes from free radical damage. While there are countless vital body functions that depend on adequate selenium intake, the lens in the human eye seems to be particularly sensitive to selenium deficiency. Cataracts, which impair the vision of over four million people in the United States, are truly nothing more than a symptom of free radical damage. Since glutathione peroxidase is the enzyme in charge of protecting the lens from free radical damage, adequate selenium is crucial to prevent cataracts. Some studies indicate levels of selenium six to seven times lower in eyes that are afflicted with cataracts than in healthy eyes. Again isolated selenium supplementation is not an advisable long-term solution, as isolated selenium may be toxic in high amounts.

Chromium

Chromium is the active ingredient in GTF (Glucose Tolerance Factor), the substance that is necessary for insulin to carry out its function of stabalising blood sugar levels. Chromium deficiency is rampant in developed countries due to the high intake of processed foods. Low physical and mental energy, irritability, chronic fatigue syndrome and hypoglycemia are symptoms of inadequate amounts of chromium. Supplementation with chromium piccolinate has been used successfully for many years, yielding wonderful results for many people. However, such effective forms of isolated chromium supplements are expensive and not necessary when we add concentrated whole foods such as Himalayan Pink salt to our diets.

Himalayan Pink Salt is the Ultimate Mineral Supplement

All of the minerals discussed below and dozens more- in fact, all the minerals that the human body needs- are contained in Himalayan Pink salt. The amounts may differ from some expert’s opinions about what is optimum for humans, but they match the amounts and proportions

found in human blood and cellular liquid. Nature speaks for itself in this regard. Of course we can take other forms of mineral supplementation but those will always differ in proportions from what we have in the body, requiring our metabolism to perform a delicate balancing act that may not always work. Most supplements don’t even contain all the minerals needed for healthy living. In this case, we have a situation not unlike a large orchestra of 84 musicians where only some of them are given a microphone. In the long run, this will ruin the music. If we enhance only some of the 84 minerals we need, the symphony of our metabolism will lose its harmony, despite some short-term benefits of such supplementation.

Salt is unquestionably essential for healthy life, so the quality of the salt we use determines the nature and amount of health we will experience in our own lives. If we use the highest quality salt, all other steps we take for greater health and well being are based on a solid foundation and can thus unfold their fullest benefits.