Hi! My name is Meryl, and I am a Pinterest fiend! I’m also that annoying person who not only surfs Pinterest, but I actually attempt (sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much) to create inspired eats and crafts and whatnot.
Way back when, I found a simple and delicious recipe for Kalua pork (see below). Truly life changing. It only called for 3 ingredients: pork butt, liquid smoke and pink sea salt. Up until that point, I had never purchased or even heard of pink sea salt, but I was game. I went to HomeGoods and bought a small packet of this pink substance…only after asking all my foodie friends about it. (Why HomeGoods? I considered pink salt to be a specialty food item, and I like going to HomeGoods to find such things for a steal.) Just like they had told me, it tasted salty (duh) but also briny. After using this magic to create porky deliciousness, I decided I needed more. And when you need more, you go to the mecca of more: Costco. I dove into the deep end and made the pink purchase and haven’t turned back.
Now, you can get pink salt in so many stores, and it’s not just for food. We have a salt lamp and nightlight in our home, and I keep Himalayan salt rocks near my tub for the rare opportunity may have to take a bath. I admit, it does sound strange to be so into salt and even stranger to talk about salt being healthy. But if loving pink salt is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
Look – you, too, need to get this salt in your life. Here’s why…
1.
A good soak does the body good. You know how you take a dip in the ocean and emerge with softer skin and a happier spirit? That’s partially due to the trace minerals (like sodium, chloride, sulphate, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and selenium) in sea water. In small quantities, trace minerals help keep your bones, muscles, heart and brain functioning the way they should. Some of these trace minerals are also good for your skin, especially if you have eczema and psoriasis. It helps with respiratory conditions and can improve circulation. When you can’t take a dip in the ocean, run a warm bath with Himalayan salt. Most baths release tension, but adding this salt takes the stress reduction up a notch. You could add 2-3 small scoops of fine Himalayan salt to your bath and call it a day. But if you would like a wash or something prettier, try Dr Teal's Restore & Replenish Pink Himalayan Salt Body Wash.
2.
Pretty girls stay hydrated. When we think about salt, many of us automatically go to the dark side – the idea that too much salt makes you retain water and can lead to poor health. While that’s true, our bodies require a certain amount of sodium to function…it also needs a certain amount of potassium – both are electrolytes and together help make sure your body has the right fluid balance. Himalayan salt has sodium and potassium, plus the other minerals mentioned above. Don’t got eating a handful of salt (pink or otherwise) – everything in moderation. Your doc can help you figure out the right amount of sodium and minerals you need per day.
3.
Pink illuminated light gives you a glow inside and out. I think I received my first salt lamp as a gift from a girlfriend, and now I have at least 2 plus a nightlight. Authentic Himalayan salt lamps are made from pink salt harvested from areas close to the Himalayas, particularly the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan. Salt lamps release an electrical charge (negative ions) into the air and clean/purify the space by helping get rid of dust particles, and they also pull toxins, allergens and pollutants from the air. Because this can help with air quality, these salt lamps could help with allergies, asthma and cold symptoms. This is also said to boost blood flow, increase energy and balance out electromagnetic radiation from appliances. I can tell you from experience that the ambient light can improve mood and help with sleep. Bonus: My daughter loves the color it gives her room at night.
4.
It tastes good. Again…porkliciousness. I’ve tried pink salt on fish, pork and beef and it’s good every time. You can get slabs to put on the grill, too. It hasn’t replaced my everyday kosher salt but when I want to give dishes a deep, earthy taste, I use the pink. Get on Pinterest and start searching. (See below for the kalua pork recipe.) Click here for a quick and dirty guide to salts and which to use when.
5.
It’s pretty. There…I said it! That pink salt looks great in a little white dish on a counter or a dining table just waiting to be sprinkled onto something yummy. It looks great in glass canisters in my bathroom and adds a subtle hint of color. The color pink represents romance and charm with a bit of whimsy, and we could all use a bit of that. Something about that blush hue makes me feel super girly, and you gotta jump on those opportunities when they come your way.
Recipe for Kalua Pork
- 1 (6 pound) pork butt roast
- 3 Tbsp pink salt
- 3 Tbsp liquid smoke flavoring
Directions :
- Stab the pork all over with a fork. (Yes, I could have used “pierce,” but…)
- Combine liquid smoke and salt. Rub mixture over meat. Place roast in a slow cooker.
- Cover, and cook on low for 16 to 20 hours, turning once during cooking time.
- Remove meat from slow cooker and shred.
Sources:
Himalayan Salt Lamp Health Benefits
Nayana Ambardekar - https://www.webmd.com/balance/himalayan-salt-lamps#1
Kalua Pork (Slow Cooker)
Plain Chicken - https://www.plainchicken.com/2012/07/kalua-pork-slow-cooker.html
Your Ultimate Guide To Salt: When and Why To Use Each Kind
Nikki Freihofer - https://www.chowhound.com/food-news/190821/your-ultimate-guide-to-salt-when-and-why-to-use-each-kind/
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