What is Rock Salt?
Halite more commonly known as Rock salt is a mineral formed from sodium chloride. Sendha namak, or rock salt, has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to boost skin health and treat coughs, colds, and stomach conditions.
Difference between Rock Salt & Common Salt
Rock salt, also known as Sendha Namak, has many benefits as compared to common salt. Rock salt is mined naturally and therefore it is considered better for health. It is highly valued in Ayurveda in India. Many mineral substances dissolved in rock salt are also found in water.
Generally, there are three types of salt – common salt, rock salt, and black salt.
Common salt is prepared from the sea or brackish lake water, which then undergoes purification in a machine.
Rock salt is mined from salt range mountains thus it is completely natural.
Black salt is also similar to rock salt. All three salts are excellent sources of sodium chloride.
Common salt contains 97% sodium chloride while 3% other ingredients are added during refining. Iodine is the primary ingredient among them and it is added to eliminate the possibility of goiter disease.
The rock salt is coarse and is found underneath the earth. It consists of about 85% sodium chloride, while the remaining 15% contains at least 84 types of elements including minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, iodine, manganese, magnesium, selenium etc. These minerals are beneficial for the body.
There is no need to add iodine in rock salt, but it has to be mixed in normal salt. Rock salt is mined naturally and therefore it is considered better for health.
Today the practice of purifying water for drinking has increased, due to which we do not get the minerals found in the water. This is the reason why nowadays the trend of rock salt has increased.
However, rock salt is relatively expensive and is coarse, due to which it does not mix properly in the food. But being coarse does not mean that it has not been refined. In fact, due to its coarseness, rock salt is considered more natural and healthy. The process of refining removes important minerals and that is why rock salt is considered better for consumption.
6 Benefits and Uses of Sendha Namak (Rock Salt)
- May provide trace minerals. It’s a common misconception that salt and sodium are the same thing
- May reduce your risk of low sodium levels
- May improve muscle cramps
- May aid digestion
- May treat sore throats
- May aid skin health