Why Do I Have Salt Cravings? by Diana Walker
There are several different reasons why you may be craving salt. The first one is that over the years your body and your taste buds have been accustomed to a lot of salt. If you are trying to cut back on salt because of health reasons, your body will crave it, simply because it is used to lots of salt.
Craving salty foods can also be a symptom of adrenal exhaustion, especially in people who live fast-paced, stressful lives.
You could also be craving salt because your body needs the additional minerals found in natural salt. These minerals have been filtered out of our regular table salt. In this case eating salty food will only satisfy your craving temporarily until your body realizes it is still missing the extra minerals.
Is Salt Really Dangerous Or Addictive?
The average American has a salt intake of about 15 pounds a year. This much salt can cause high blood pressure and hypertension. The excess sodium also leaches a lot of calcium out of your bones, which over time can lead to osteoporosis.
Your body needs approximately 500 mg of salt a day. If you are an athlete or work hard physically, and sweat a lot, you will need more. The FDA’s recommended daily salt intake is 2,500 mg a day for the average adult. Most North Americans’ daily salt intake is over 5,000 mg. This is the processed, white, refined sodium chloride, which is toxic to our bodies.
Salt cravings have also been linked to serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sickle cell anemia. If you find yourself craving a lot of salt all of a sudden, it may be a good idea to schedule a physical. Be sure to mention your salt cravings to your physician, so he or she can administer appropriate tests for the conditions mentioned above.
Are cravings controlling your life? Diana Walker’s book CravingSecrets.com will show you why you have certain food cravings, how they affect your health and your mood, and what you can do to beat them and live a healthier life.