Salt cravings are common and are usually the result of factors such as boredom or stress. Occasionally, a salt craving can be tied to a medical condition. In this article, we look at seven causes for salt cravings, including lack of sleep, excessive sweating, and some underlying medical conditions.
Adrenal insufficiency
Addison's disease can cause a salt craving that's new, ongoing and excessive.
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.
Calcium and Magnesium:
Low levels of these two minerals—which often go hand in hand—prime you for sugar and salt cravings.
Craving salt is not a sign of iron deficiency, and most often is not a sign of deficiency at all. Although rare, it occasionally symbolises a deficiency in chloride, an important mineral most often known referred to as electrolytes.
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.
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.
To limit your sodium consumption, try using seasoning blends, spices, and crunchy vegetables to curb your sodium intake and salt cravings over time. If you continue to have salt cravings, you might want to seek the advice of a health care professional for an evaluation of your nutrition and lifestyle.
Deficiencies in certain minerals such as zinc, chromium, iron, calcium, and magnesium may lead to sugar cravings as well, Elia says. Magnesium deficiency is specifically worth paying attention to.
1. Dehydration. 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.
You have odd cravings for things that aren't food
While researchers are still trying to figure out why, people with severe iron deficiencies often crave non-food items like dirt, clay, cornstarch, paint chips, cardboard, and cleaning supplies, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
According to recent studies, iron-deficient patients have low levels of sodium and bicarbonates while potassium and chloride were high. Similarly, low levels of sodium and high potassium and chloride levels were found in patients with sickle cell anemia.
Just A Pinch Makes a World Of Difference
Adding a pinch of high quality sea salt to every glass of water will not only help you hydrate, but it will slowly increase your trace mineral levels.
Sodium is a critical electrolyte that, along with potassium and chloride, helps to deliver water to your body's cells. That means a diet that's too low in sodium can actually increase your risk of dehydration.
A dehydration headache “feels like a pressure headache that is sort of squeezing, and it's all across the front of your head,” Lynn says. “There's no aura with it.” Lynn also says she usually gets dehydration headaches when she's traveling and not drinking enough fluids.
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.
A large drop in potassium level may lead to abnormal heart rhythms, especially in people with heart disease. This can cause you to feel lightheaded or faint. A very low potassium level can even cause your heart to stop.
"In as little as three weeks, a person can significantly reduce their threshold for salt, and even find that foods they previously craved now taste too salty," says Van Horn.