The "superfood" that's not extra healthy at all

We've been swindled. No Images? [Click here]( DREAMS, CRUSHED Himalayan pink salt is not healthier for you, nor is it from the Himalayas Pink salt is gorgeous. It's trendy. It looks great sitting on your kitchen counter. And at some point most of us started believing it was healthier to eat (something about nutrients?), but I personally can't remember ever reading a study explaining why. So there we were, spending an extra $0.37 on a Himalayan pink salt grinder at Trader Joe's while the people uninfluenced by cool Instagrammers slowly shook their heads from the nuts and snacks aisle. Because they knew the secret we had not yet learned: Pink salt, despite its trendy power and ["superfood" label](, is not any healthier than white salt. And also, it's not technically from the Himalayas. Ah, but the rumor is based in fact So the claims about extra nutrients in pink salt aren't false, exactly. Strictly speaking, pink salt [does have more nutrients]( (such as potassium and calcium) than normal table salt. But there's such an unbelievably minuscule amount of nutrients in both salts that it won't ever make a difference. (For context, [you'd have to eat 3.7 pounds](—POUNDS—of pink salt in one day to hit the recommended daily amount of potassium. You could get there with about 1.2 pounds of table salt, but that's such an absurd amount to begin with that it's ultimately a moot point.) As for the Himalayas: no "Himalayan" pink salt comes from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan, which is actually quite a bit south from the Himalayas themselves. The Himalayan name is mostly just a brand, which raises a question (as [The Atlantic]( so insightfully raised): If it were called Pakistani pink salt, would we be enamored with it in the same way? On that note, why are we all so enamored with it? It probably has something to do with our love of Instagram and pretty things and "wellness" and "trends." And also maybe a bit to do with our love of salty things, because at the end of the day, pink salt will make your food salty. It just won't do anything more. ([The Atlantic]() Try this We've all heard we're probably eating too much sodium. But the actual amount each person needs depends on factors like blood pressure and activity level. To keep your salt intake in check, lower your consumption of processed foods, which account for 75 percent of the sodium we typically eat. [Greatist]( IMPORTANT INFORMATION The five most effective ways to cure hiccups Everyone has their own weird theories and tricks, and we're not necessarily saying those don't work. But here are the hiccup solutions science stands behind: - Holding your breath. Because it increases [intrathoracic pressure](, whatever that means. - Being frightened, as long as it's a good jump scare that forces you to gasp for air. - Popping your ears. Nope, it's not bad for you. - Drinking a glass of water. Bonus: hydration. - Breathing into a paper bag—all that extra CO2 you're breathing changes the pressure in your airway. ([To]([nic]() SPONSORED Snack time is our new favorite beauty routine Toners and serums are necessary, sure. But you may be able to keep skin healthy [by snacking smarter](. Almonds are one of our favorite options—a single serving of [Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds]( is an awesome source of magnesium and vitamin E, which supports healthy skin. Not to mention almonds are delicious, but we guess that's just an added bonus. Almonds aren't the only beauty-boosting snack Incorporate egg yolks, sweet potatoes, blueberries, pears, Greek yogurt, honey, and strawberries into your diet for even more beauty benefits. Want all the info? [Get it here](. [READ MORE]( HERE'S THE REST Why you say, "I could just eat you up," to cute kids and dogs, PLUS what that says about your psyche 🐶 [Science Daily]( How much protein do you really need? Really really? 🍗 [NPR]( Victorians worried about eyestrain from their books the way we do with our iPhones 📚 [PopSci]( Cove is a newer, better way to deal with your migraines 💆 [Cove]( "Millennials" did not "ruin" "tuna" 🐟 [New York Times]( Michelle Obama says imposter syndrome "doesn't go away" 😒 [CBS News]( Here's a picture of a seal with an eel stuck up its nose because we know you love this stuff 🌊 [Miami Herald]( Having a bad boss could make you an even better one 👩 💻 [Science Daily]( How to absolutely destroy the stomach bug viruses in your home ('cause Lysol won't cut it) 😷 [New York Times]( The most popular workout day and time, according to ClassPass 🏃 [Fast Company]( Well Now is Greatist's roundup of all the health stories you were too busy to read this week. [Sign up]( to make sure you keep getting it. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( © Greatist 2018 Greatist, Inc. 30 Vandam St., Floor 3, New York, NY 10013 [Forward]( [Unsubscribe](