Kala Namak or Himalayan Black Salt (Urdu کالا نمک; Bengali Biit lobon (বিট লবণ); Newari Be Chi; Nepali Birae Nun (बिरे नुन) ; Hindi kālā namak (काला नमक) ; Marathi काळं मीठ ; Gujarati સંચળSanchal; Tamil கரி உப்பு; Malayalam ഇന്തുപ്പ്) also known as sulemani namak, black salt, or kala noon, is a type of rock salt, salty and pungent-smelling condiment used in South Asia. The condiment is composed largely of sodium chloride with several other components lending the salt its colour and smell. The smell is mainly due to its sulphur content. Due to the presence of Greigite (Fe3S4, Iron(II,III) sulfide) in the mineral, it forms brownish pink to dark violet translucent crystals when whole, and, when ground into a powder, it is light purple to pink in color.
The raw material for producing kala namak was originally obtained from natural halite from mines in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan in certain locations of the Himalayas salt ranges, or from salt harvested from the North Indian salt lakes of Sambhar or Didwana and Mustang of Nepal.
Uses
Kala Namak is used extensively in South Asian cuisines of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan as a condiment or added to chaats, chutneys, salads, all kinds of fruits, raitas and many other savory Indian snacks. Chaat masala, an Indian spice blend, is dependent upon black salt for its characteristic sulfurous hard-boiled egg aroma. Those who are not accustomed to black salt often describe the smell as similar to rotten eggs. Kala Namak is appreciated by some vegans in dishes that mimic the taste of eggs. It is used, for example, to season tofu to mimic an egg salad.
Kala Namak is considered a cooling spice in ayurvedic medicine and is used as a laxative and digestive aid. It is also believed to relieve intestinal gas and heartburn. It is used in Jammu to cure goiters. This salt is also used to treat hysteria, and for making toothpastes by combining it with other mineral and plant ingredients.
Benefits
.Blood Pressure: It is sometimes recommended to people on low-salt diets due to hypertension because it’s believed to be lower in sodium content compared to regular table salt.
.Intestinal Gas: Roasting the salt in a copper vessel until the color change and mixing the salt with warm water is effective in treating intestinal gas.
.Aphrodisiac: Harad seeds which is used to make black salt is considered an aphrodisiac
.Laxative: Can be used as a laxative and digestive aid. Laxative made of lemons, ginger and black salt is very powerful.
.Constipation: Salt in the digestive tract extracts water from the body by osmosis. Black salt acts as a digestive aid in reversing constipation and allowing individuals to eliminate flatulence. It can also be used as a stool softener in constipation.
.Joint Pains: Beneficial for curing arthritis and paralysis.
.Gastrointestinal: Used to regulate electrolytes or the gastrointestinal tract.
.Anaemia: It contains a small amounts of iron compounds which are highly beneficial for iron deficiency anaemia.
.Inflammation: The aromatic sulphur and salt water is used to heal topical inflammation and infections.
.Immune system: Helps build up a strong immune system naturally.
.Acidity: Has an alkalizing effect on the body, as it has not been exposed to high heat and stripped of its minerals. Thus it can help you to prevent and reverse high levels of acidity.
.Weight Loss: Can help in losing weight. It helps the body to create digestive juices so that the foods you eat are digested faster.
.Respiration: Effective in reducing inflammation in the respiratory system. Thus the production of phlegm is slowed down so that you can breathe easier again. Sprinkling Rock salt on the tongue helps in breathing. It has almost the same effect as of a nasal inhaler and has no side effects when taken in moderate quantities.
.Cholesterol: Reduces high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and help to regulate an irregular heartbeat. Thus it can help prevent atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes.
.Diabetes: Rock salt can help to reduce the need for insulin by helping to maintain proper sugar levels in the body. Thus the salt is an essential part of the diet if you are diabetic, or at risk for the disease.
.Osteoporosis: Just over 1/4 of the amount of salt that is in the body is stored in the bones, where it helps to keep them strong. When the body lacks salt and water it begins to draw the sodium from the bones, which eventually can lead to osteoporosis. Thus by drinking plenty of water and consuming salt in moderation you can prevent osteoporosis.
.Muscle Spasms and Cramps: Potassium is essential for helping the muscles to function properly. Black or Rock salt not only contains small amounts of potassium, but it also helps the body to absorb it better as compared to other foods. Thus it is very effective in helping to prevent muscle pains, spasms and cramps.
.Depression: Black or Rock salt also has shown to be effective in treating various types of depression. The salt helps to preserve two essential hormones in the body that help you to better deal with stress. These hormones are serotonin and melatonin, which help you to feel good, relax and sleep better at night.
