Detox Diary: Why You Should Be Drinking Pink Salt Water

Until recently, I was under the impression that salt was something to be avoided as much as possible. I filed it under the same category as sugar, trans fats, and prolonged exposure to UV rays. In a word: bad. But while white table salt gets a bad wrap for a reason, I was surprised to learn that natural unrefined salts, like Himalayan pink salt, have a much different mineral composition.

Himalayan pink salt is packed with over 84 trace minerals and elements that make it incredibly nourishing for your body. Pink salt has numerous benefits from helping the body detoxify to boosting energy to improving digestion to promoting healthy hair, skin, and nails.

So how do you use it? Of course you can use pink salt in any dish you would use regular salt in, but it goes beyond that too. To get a boost of caffeine-free energy, you can add a pinch of pink salt to your morning lemon water or smoothie each day (this Dark Chocolate Salty Maca Crunch smoothie is a favorite of mine). To experience the full benefits of Himalayan pink salt, you can also make salt water sole (pronounced so-lay), which is water that has been fully saturated with natural salt to the point where it won’t absorb anymore. This is the form of the salt that is easiest for the body to absorb.

According to holistic nutritionist Kelly LeVeque, pink salt water makes a great sports drink: When we sweat and workout we lose minerals (or electrolytes), and sole is a great way to add them back in the body with water. Himalayan Pink Salt is packed with over 84 trace minerals and elements, as opposed to table salt that is 97.5% sodium chloride. Excess sodium increases your risk of hypertension, osteoporosis, and kidney disease, whereas the diversity of elements in Himalayan pink salt is shown to create an electrolyte balance within your body, strengthen bones, lower blood pressure, and improve circulation. It also helps to protect the delicate balance of minerals in your cells, avoid excess water retention, and prevent premature aging. Every cell needs a balance of potassium and sodium.

Here is how to make and use your salt water sole:

1. Fill a jar about ¼ of the way with pink salt.
2. Add filtered water to the jar, leaving a bit of space at the top in case you need to add more salt later.
3. Put a lid on the jar and shake gently. Leave it on the counter overnight to give the salt time to dissolve. The next day you should still see some salt at the bottom of the jar that can’t be absorbed by the water. This is how you know you have a true “sole” solution. (If you don’t see any salt at the bottom, simply add a couple teaspoons more and let it sit for another day.)
4. To use your sole, add up to 1 tsp of the salt water to another glass of filtered water first thing each morning. Drink up!

Are you going to give Himalayan pink salt a try?

Let me know your favorite healthy habits in the comments.

xo Ilana
Team LC

Photos: Valorie Darling for Lauren Conrad.com