If you’ve been looking for a healthy substitute for salt, Himalayan and Chinen must’ve come up a couple of times. In fact, both of these are often confused. And if you search for Chinen salt, you’ll actually stumble upon pictures of Himalayan salt. But the two are different, and Chinen salt benefits your body differently.
Let’s find out how.
Chinen Salt Benefits
Reduces Blood Sugar Levels
If you’re having trouble with high blood sugar levels, you might find Chinen salt helpful. There have been several studies that found a significant blood sugar reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes.
It’s even said to be as effective as the popular diabetes drug metformin (Glucophage).
The effects seem to take place due to a couple of different reasons:
- Decreases sugar production in the liver
- Increases healthy gut bacteria
- Helps the body break down sugar by increasing glycolysis
- Makes insulin more effective by decreasing resistance
There is a lot of talk online about people normalizing their blood sugar levels because of Berberine (Chinen Salt). But we always recommend consulting with your doctor before trying anything new.
Lowers Cholesterol
One of the biggest problems is cholesterol. Especially as we age. The disease that comes because of it is terrible and often leads to premature death.
There are many ways to lower cholesterol, and apparently, it’s another way in which Chinen salt benefits the body. According to multiple studies, the active component Berberine can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol quite effectively.
It was also found to increase HDL (good) cholesterol and even lower apolipoprotein B, a key component in the production of LDL cholesterol.
Lose Weight
Some studies found that overweight individuals experienced a significant weight loss and body fat reduction, thanks to Berberine.
That could be attributed to the compound’s stimulating effects on stomach acid. As well as fat-regulating hormones, such as adiponectin, leptin, and insulin.
Since the studies were done on Berberine and not Chinen salt per se, the individuals took a 500 mg supplement 3 times a day. If you switch your regular salt consumption to Chinen salt, you’ll consume roughly the same amount.
Fights Acne
Berberine has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Which means it can help remove toxins from the body, fighting acne and diminishing existing acne scars.
Combined with the fact that salty foods are often correlated with acne breakouts. Making the switch to Chinen salt might make a significant change in your fight against those pesky inflamed face nipples.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Its been found that just less than a gram of Berberine (about a teaspoon of salt) a day, combined with the blood-pressure drug amlodipine, reduces the blood pressure more effectively than taking the drug alone.
Of course, as always, we recommend that in matters like this, you consult with your doctor first.
Does Chinen Salt Cure Diabetes
While Chinen salt won’t cure diabetes, studies show that it has some profoundly positive effects. It reduces sugar production in the liver, increases glycolysis, and lowers insulin resistance.
In fact, the effects are so profound that some medical experts claim it to be as effective as metformin, a popular diabetes medicine.
Is Chinen Salt The Same As Himalayan Salt
It’s a common misconception that the two are the same. But, Chinen salt is not the same as Himalayan salt. While they both look the same, and are often sold as the same, Himalayan is simple rock salt, while Chinen salt is made from the Berberine plant compound.
Berberine is a chemical compound found in plants that are often used medicinally, such as Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis), Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium), Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), and Chinese Goldthread (Coptis chinensis).
As you can see, Coptis Chinensis is where Chinen salt got its nickname from.
Chinen salt contains Sodium Chloride and Sodium Nitrate, while Himalayan contains only Sodium Carbonate.
Chinen also contains Chromium, Manganese, and Magnesium, which Himalayan doesn’t. Making it quite a rich salt in comparison.
Conclusion
I think it’s pretty clear then that Chinen salt is a better option than regular salt. It’s made from a plant, as opposed to some salts that are made from synthetic chemical compounds.
And it has a bunch of nifty health benefits.
If you’re looking for another super healthy (and natural) condiment, check out our article about the health benefits of turmeric.