A Reason Why You Crave Salt

Do you crave salty foods? Does your food lack taste until you sprinkle it with salt? An interesting new study published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Diet shows that those cravings for salty foods may come from a surprising source – eating too much fast food.

Researchers studied the food preferences of seventy Korean pre-teens between the ages of twelve and thirteen using special food questionnaires. They then tested their preferences for salt by seeing how much salt they added to their beansprout soup to make it palatable. The findings? The adolescents who frequented fast food restaurants were more likely to salt their soup heavily than those who avoided them. Adolescents who ate pizza or hamburgers at fast food restaurants were the most likely to crave salty foods and prefer a high salt diet.

This suggests that preference for a high salt diet may be a taste that’s acquired from eating too many high sodium foods at fast food establishments. A typical meal at a fast food chain contains up to half a day’s sodium, lots of fat, and little nutritional value. No more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium is the amount recommended for the daily intake of salt, but most Americans are getting almost twice that amount and increasing their risk for high blood pressure and heart disease at the same time. They may also be increasing their cravings for salty foods – creating a vicious cycle.

It’s important to keep in mind if you crave salty foods, it can sometimes be a sign of an underlying medical problem such as an underactive thyroid or adrenal insufficiency. These conditions can be diagnosed through simple blood tests and is worth checking into if you consistently crave salty foods and are experiencing fatigue or low energy levels.

If you crave salty foods and are healthy, chances are you’ve developed a taste for these foods and need to gradually wean yourself away from a high salt diet. Most people find after reducing the salt content of their diet for four to six weeks, cravings for salt disappear and food tastes good again without excess salt.

The best way to reduce cravings for salty foods is to stop visiting fast food establishments and eating processed packaged foods that are high in sodium. When preparing meals at home, gradually decrease the amount of salt you add to food over a four to six week period so you can wean yourself off of the taste. Substitute spices and herbs such as garlic, onion powder, or add a little lemon juice for extra flavor. There are a variety of salt-free spice and herb combinations such as Mrs. Dash that makes low sodium food taste better. Do this consistently and you’ll learn to enjoy the taste of your food again – minus the salt.