Salt of the earth

national map is a passionate 76-year-young man who jetsets across continents. He’s the largest emerald dealer in the world, the owner of mines across the world, and into software, construction and even the movie hall business. His efforts to popularise the salt is a labour of love, and he understandably brings to it a fire that is unmatched.

Meeting Shivshanker Gupta is an experience.

Beneath his grey bushy eyebrows, piercing black eyes speak volumes as he says, ‘‘I have been eating thisSaindhav salt for many years, studying all the ancient and modern research on it and I can tell you it is God’s gift.’’

This 100 per cent vegetarian salt, he points out, is completely chemical-free. Gupta does a quick, interesting comparison of the Himalayan salt with refined sea salt. He points out that Saindhav salt is natural and mined, whereas sea salt is man-made. The Himalayan salt is vegetarian, whereas sea salt contains the remains of sea animals. Saindhav salt is also low in sodium, has a long shelf-life and has anti-caking properties too.

As for the health-enhancing properties, Mr Gupta’s list of cardiologists, neurologists, dieticians and researchers who recommend it is impressive. All food salt is 98 per cent sodium chloride; they are distinct from each other in the mineral balance in the remaining two per cent. The Himalayan salt contains over 74 trace minerals, including those essential to good health and vitality.

Dr Wilhelm Hoefer of the Institute of Biophysical Research, Las Vegas, points out that only Himalayan salt contains ‘‘minerals and trace elements essential for the human body in a bio-physical form that allows their easy absorption’’.

Prof Manfred Kage of the University of Mannheim and Dr E Scherwitz-Josenhans of Germany conclude that Himalayan salt promotes the elimination

of animal protein from the body.

The Sushrut Samhita emphasises that Saindhav salt is beneficial to the eyes, palatable, an aphrodisiac and cooling in its potency. Since this 2000-year-old endorsement is not enough, Mr Gupta hasmodern researchers at Madras University studying the salt and coming up with the best news: This salt controls body weight, removes obesity and improves skin gloss too. Maybe that’s why they coined the phrase ‘‘worth your salt’’.