A nutriciologist tells us why we crave salty foods. 3 possible reasons

founder of the International Institute of Integrative Nutritionology

Why can you crave salty foods?

Cravings for salty foods are not always a sign of pregnancy. If you have a desire to eat pickles and herring or sprinkle salt on your food, your body may be signaling a problem.

Lack of salt, as well as excess salt, can be harmful. Salt keeps blood pressure normal, controls the amount of blood flowing to the nerves and muscles. With a lack of salt in the body, the ratio of water and sodium in the blood and acid-base balance is disturbed. And on these processes depend on the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle function. Excess salt, on the contrary, increases blood pressure, provokes fluid retention in the tissues and edema.

Table salt can be replaced with useful analogs, such as pink and black salt:

• pink salt (Himalayan, Crimean, Peruvian, Hawaiian, Australian) is a unique source of at least 25 beneficial trace elements;
• black salt improves digestion and appetite, increases intestinal peristalsis, gets rid of bloating and gas.

Salt craving can be a sign of a number of diseases and deficiencies. Do not ignore the fact that you suddenly increased the amount of salt in familiar dishes, and on the table appeared strongly salty foods, including snacks and fast food. There are several reasons why the desire to eat something salty increases.

Dehydration

A person is 80% water, and for the normal functioning of all organs it is necessary to maintain the right level of fluid. Everyone has an individual level depending on weight and height. If this level decreases, dehydration begins and salt cravings appear. Salty foods provoke fluid intake.

To avoid dehydration, do not forget about the water regime. Calculate the norm of water consumption can be as follows: 30-40 ml per 1 kg of weight.

Other symptoms of dehydration include:

• clammy and cold skin;
• feeling of dizziness;
• headaches and constant thirst;
• mood swings;
• palpitations and muscle cramps.

Tired adrenal gland syndrome

In the syndrome of tired adrenal glands, blood pressure decreases, the norm of which is maintained by salt. Therefore, cravings for salty foods increase.

Tired adrenal gland syndrome has other signs besides cravings for salty foods:

• lack of energy and extreme fatigue;
• pale skin color and clammy skin;
• low blood pressure;
• lack of appetite and weight loss;
• diarrhea;
• dark spots on the face;
• sores on the inside of the cheek.

If you notice these signs, do not delay a visit to the doctor. In the first stage of the disease, you experience fatigue and irritability, and the third stage leads to an imbalance of the hormonal system and depression.

Eating right and working with stress will help in fighting the syndrome:

• exclude sweets, refined foods, fast carbohydrates – sugar, sweet fruits, wheat flour, margarine and other trans fats, minimize gluten-containing foods;
• don’t skip meals! Organize split meals with snacks and gradually move to three meals a day to balance the level of hormones insulin and cortisol and stabilize the production of leptin – the hormone of satiety;
• each meal should be a complete meal – containing protein, fat and complex carbohydrates;
• drink water;
• establish a sleep schedule – go to bed no later than 23:00 and sleep 7-8 hours without night awakenings;
• do yoga, Pilates and take more frequent walks in parks.

Pregnancy

Pickles and a pregnant woman is a well-known combination, which is justified by the changes in the body. During pregnancy, women experience toxicosis, which is frequent bouts of vomiting and diarrhea that dehydrate the body. Due to the lack of fluids and minerals, the body requires salt, which contains sodium and potassium.

Cravings for salt and salty foods are not always caused by diseases, perhaps you have not eaten your favorite fish for a long time or overeaten a sweet. But if the craving increases and becomes a daily occurrence, you should pay attention to other signs and assess your health.

First of all, check the condition of the kidneys and thyroid gland. It is important to review your lifestyle, perhaps you work a lot physically, exercise hard or live with increased stress levels – all this affects the biochemical processes and leads to the desire to eat salty.