Search for “Himalayan pink salt” on TikTok or YouTube and you’ll find hundreds of videos spruiking it as a miracle weight-loss tool.
Most of the suggested recipes involve mixing a small amount of the salt with warm water and lemon juice, but the more complicated include added ingredients ranging from apple cider vinegar, lime juice and cayenne pepper to honey, ginger and turmeric.
Influencers would have their followers believe the “pink salt trick” is a guaranteed way to shed kilos and will also bring other benefits like reduced bloating, better circulation and improved sleep.
But like so many TikTok health trends, and wellness fads more generally, it isn’t backed by credible science.
One dietician, writing for NBC’s Today in the US, put it bluntly when she said that “while pink salt may look pretty in your pantry and lemon water can be refreshing, there’s no scientific evidence to confirm that this combination accelerates weight loss or magically reduces stomach bloating”.
“In fact, for many people, adding extra salt to water may actually have the opposite effect, making you feel more bloated,” Natalie Rizzo said.
Dara Ford, a lecturer in health studies at the American University in Washington, suggests that any weight-loss effect from the pink salt trick probably comes from swapping out sugary drinks or improved hydration.
“Perhaps the beverage is replacing a meal, in which case fewer calories would be consumed,” Ford told a health website. “There is nothing magical happening here.”
@drfarah.ash I wish I started this sooner. Pink salt + lemon + lime = game changer! I can’t even begin to tell you how many benefits I’ve felt since adding this to my morning routine. It’s a total game changer. 🙌 ✨ Just a pinch of Himalayan pink salt, a squeeze of lime & lemon, and a glass of filtered water — that’s it! Here’s what it’s done for me: ✔️ Way more energy (no more sluggish mornings) ✔️ Better digestion & less bloating ✔️ Clearer skin ✔️ Fewer sugar cravings ✔️ More consistent hydration ✔️ Feeling way more balanced—physically & mentally 🧂 Himalayan pink salt is rich in over 80 trace minerals that help your body absorb water better, support adrenal health, and naturally balance your pH levels. When paired with citrus, it becomes a powerful detox and immune support drink. 🌿 It’s simple. It’s natural. And honestly? I wish I started sooner. 💛 Try it for a week and let your body be the proof. Tag someone who needs this reset! #pinksaltwater #morningroutine #guthealth #naturalenergy #bloatingtips #lemonwater #hydrationhack #dailyritual #wellnesstips #detoxdrink #holistichealth #cleanskinfromwithin #adrenalsupport #tiktokwellness #momlifehealth #postpartumreset#CapCut
Contrary to what its name suggests, Himalayan pink salt doesn’t come from a picturesque Himalayan mountain but a salt mine near Islamabad in Pakistan.
It is little different from regular table salt except for its colour and the fact that it may have small amounts of beneficial minerals like potassium, magnesium and iron oxide.
Rizzo said these trace amounts were so tiny that they provided no meaningful health benefits
Dr Regos Fernandes, from America’s Mayo Clinic, agreed that it was basically the same as regular salt: “Salt is sodium chloride, and Himalayan salt, pink salt, rock salt or sea salt, all of these are also sodium chloride.”
A 2020 study of the mineral composition of pink salt being sold in Australia found wide variations in the amount of nutrients and also “potential for contaminant ingestion”.
“While one teaspoon (five grams) of pink salt contained small quantities of all nutrients, the levels did not meaningfully contribute to nutrient intake, with the exception of sodium which reached the Australian suggested dietary target,” it concluded.
Excessive intake of sodium can contribute to increased blood pressure and hypertension, a risk factor for diseases such as stroke and heart attack.
Australian dietary guidelines recommend adults should consume about five grams of salt a day from all food and drink sources.
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