For most of us, salt has always been simple. It was the white, everyday namak sitting in a steel dabba in the kitchen. We never questioned it. But over the last few years, that has changed. Pink salt, rock salt, and Himalayan salt have slowly made their way into our meals, marketed as “natural,” “clean,” and somehow better. But in switching to these trendy salts, have we unknowingly removed something essential from our diet? That’s exactly what a creator recently explained on social media.
Replacing Iodine Rich Table Salt With Pink Salt?
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Recently, Namrata Sharma, a licensed therapist and Instagram content creator, shared a video highlighting a growing concern among doctors and mental health professionals. She pointed out that many people, especially women, are showing signs of thyroid imbalance, and one of the common links is the removal of iodised salt from their daily diet.
This isn’t about extreme diets or supplements. It’s about a small, everyday choice we barely think about. Iodine plays a key role in keeping your thyroid gland healthy. The thyroid controls how your body uses energy, how your hormones function, and how your brain stays balanced.
When your iodine intake drops, the effects can show up quietly. You feel foggy and unfocused, your anxiety feels higher, your mood feels low, and you’re tired, even after rest.
Namrata explains that iodine helps support neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, the chemicals that help regulate mood, motivation, and emotional stability. When iodine is missing, these “feel-good” chemicals don’t function as efficiently, which can affect how you feel day to day.
Doctors Are Worried About Iodine Deficiency Again
In the video, Namrata explained that this isn’t new information. India has already faced the consequences of iodine deficiency. In the 1950s and 60s, doctors across the country noticed rising cases of goitre, infertility, miscarriages, developmental issues in children, and mood-related problems. The cause was clear: iodine deficiency was widespread.
That’s when the government and medical community introduced iodised salt as a public health solution. It was affordable, accessible, and effective, and it worked. But today, many people are moving away from iodised salt. It’s not because doctors advised it, but because of trends. Pink salt and rock salt are often seen as healthier alternatives, but most of them contain little to no iodine.
By fully replacing iodised salt, people may be slowly reducing their iodine intake without realising it. Over time, this can affect thyroid health, hormones, fertility, energy levels, and even mental well-being.
Using iodised table salt in small, controlled amounts is far safer than cutting it out entirely. As she explains, trendy salts can be used occasionally, but they shouldn’t replace iodised salt as your main source of sodium.
Cover Image Courtesy: Namrata Sharma/Instagram
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