A few potato crisps are not enough for you? Or potato crisps are one of the many salty snacks, which your body requires every day?
Our body works so that sometimes we want something salty or sweet.
In the past, salt wasn‘t easy available for people. People who lived near the ocean could evaporate the liquid from sea water and scrape the crystallized salt. However this method cost a lot of time and effort.
In the past, our bodies and minds really enjoyed this taste and were seeking pleasure given by a nice saltiness. When we eat salt our bodies release same substances that are released when experiencing pleasure. This ensures that the body will want something salty.
However, if you consume too much sodium, body balance is disrupted and our blood and tissues are trying to restore this balance. Today salt is easily available, it is cheap, and we are really eating too much of it.
Health Organizations warn that we should eat about 2,300 mg (or less) of sodium per day, which is less than 1 teaspoon. If you are over the age of 50, have high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney inflammation, you should consume no more than 1,500 mg per day.
It is surprising that most people consume even 8,500 mg of sodium per day, which is more than a double recommended daily allowance. A large part of the salt is consumed with processed, fast food. However, sometimes when we want to eat something salty, such desires are easily satisfied, because salt is present in almost all foods. But why we still want salty snacks, even if large amounts of salt is harmful?
This is a habit
Probably you grew up with parents who put salt on the table and are adding salt before tasting food. It becomes a habit when the you put a pinch of salt to the majority of prepared dishes. This way you just get used to saltier food, and unsalted food or food with little added salt seems tasteless or bland. You should watch how much salt you add preparing your food, how much you add even before tasting dish.
Here are a few advices:
Try to cook without salt or sprinkle only a tiny fraction of all the salt, which is required by the recipe. Serve meals with freshly squeezed lemon or lemon pepper. Use fresh spices, such as parsley, mint, shallot and thyme. Season with a small pinch of salt, if you still think that the dish lacks flavor.
The body lacks minerals
Our body needs calcium, sodium, magnesium, zinc and other minerals for it to function properly. Most minerals are salty, so when the body sends a message that we need to eat something salty, it means we lack minerals. Take supplements, eat more marine vegetation, such as kelp, seaweeds and add to your diet chia or hemp seeds.
Your body is dehydrated
Sodium withholds fluids in a body in order to maintain fluid balance in the cells. When the body is dehydrated, you need more salt to maintain the electrolyte balance. They consist of minerals and salt, responsible for water transportation. Exercising or consumption of alcohol can lead to dehydration. Drink plenty of water every day, and if you exercise, you may need to drink even more water. If you drink alcohol, together with your drink have a glass of water.
Slower adrenal function
The desire to eat something salty may be associated with impaired adrenal gland function, which can be a cause of low blood pressure. So, if high blood pressure is not a good sign, low blood pressure isn‘t good for you too. Stressful situations cause increased levels of the hormone adrenaline, which then inhibits function of these glands. If you feel a desire to snack on salty foods, lack of energy, and you notice the bags under the eyes, you should have your hormones cortisol and adrenaline tested.