Calcium and Magnesium: Low levels of these two minerals—which often go hand in hand—prime you for sugar and salt cravings.
Adrenal insufficiency
Addison's disease can cause a salt craving that's new, ongoing and excessive.
Magnesium deficiency can cause: loss of appetite. nausea and vomiting. fatigue and weakness.
Lack of sleep
Much like stress, lack of sleep affects your hormones — and salt cravings: Cortisol: When you don't sleep well, cortisol levels increase. Leptin: Leptin tells the brain to stop eating when you're full. Less sleep leads to less leptin — and less self-control around the foods you crave.
Some studies show that anemia too can make you crave salt. But, how does anemia cause salt cravings? Anemia results in fatigue, muscle cramps, confusion, and fainting, apart from pica and can cause salt cravings. Iron deficiency anemia can also be related to other problems, which affect sodium balance.
Cravings for salty, crunchy foods might indicate "frustration, anger, stress, or resentment,” she adds. “Crunching down with your jaw is cathartic, almost like punching a wall. When I got stressed before, I would often turn to pretzels.” Then again, you might just really want something salty.
This means that low production of aldosterone, such as from adrenal insufficiency, can lead to low blood pressure, a rapid pulse, and low energy. Since aldosterone deficiency causes low blood sodium (along with high levels of potassium), your body sends out cravings to tell you it needs more salt.
Sodium deficiency triggers the activation of these hormonal systems and neural circuits to engage motivational processes that elicit a craving for salty substances and a state of reward when salty foods are consumed.
A constant craving for salt may be a sign that you are dehydrated since sodium is a natural electrolyte that helps to balance the fluid levels of our cells.
Symptoms of hyponatremia can include nausea and vomiting, loss of energy and confusion. Serious hyponatremia can cause seizures, coma and even death. Hyponatremia is more common in older adults because they're more likely to take medicines or have medical problems that put them at risk of the disorder.
The compulsive craving and consumption of non-food substances, known as pica, is a well-documented symptom associated with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Olfactory cravings associated with IDA are a recently described phenomenon known as desiderosmia.
Some signs that iron pills are working for iron deficiency anemia include increased energy, less weakness, and less shortness of breath or dizziness.
Just like stress, lack of sleep can also affect your hormones. Thus, leading to salt cravings. When you are sleeping less or are exhausted, your serotonin levels drop. So, your body looks for other ways, like eating salty or sweet foods, to feel good.
Eye symptoms of low iron can include a pale coloring of the inside of the lower eyelids. In moderate or severe cases of iron deficiency anemia, the inside layer of the lower eyelid is very pale pink or yellow instead of red. Rather than low iron, one common cause of blurry vision is dry eye.
In fact, a vitamin B12 deficiency can cause mood swings and lead to binge eating. When women experience menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, fluctuating testosterone and estrogen levels may cause unique cravings. Stress also plays a crucial role in hormonal imbalances leading to cravings.
Restlessness and irritability. Muscle weakness, spasms or cramps. Seizures. Coma.
What does it mean when you're craving salt? Craving salt means a number of things, ranging from dehydration and low levels of electrolytes lost in sweat to stress and poor-quality sleep.
Sodium is an electrolyte that helps regulate levels of water and other substances in the body. Hyponatremia is when there are low sodium levels in the blood. It can lead to lethargy, confusion, fatigue, and other symptoms.
Salt craving is a symptom that the body's electrolyte balance is no longer maintained, either due to dehydration or over-hydration.
If you like salty foods or tend to add salt to your meals or if you have consistent cravings for restaurant foods, salty chips, preserved/processed foods in a box, listen up.
Drugs such as heroin and cocaine may owe some of their addictive powers to an ancient instinct—our appetite for salt.