Salt is an ingredient that has a reputation for being unhealthy. However, it plays a vital role in our bodies, making its consumption a necessity. Table salt is made of a combination of two essential electrolytes, sodium and chloride (NaCI).
Why Is Salt So Important?
Electrolytes are responsible for maintaining fluid balance, blood PH, and pressure. More importantly, it’s responsible for conducting the electrical charges within the body, which lead to muscle contractions.
These fundamental functions make our body crave salt when it lacks primary nutrients. Here’s the reason behind your cravings.
Dehydration
As we’ve mentioned, salt aids our bodies in keeping fluid balance. When you’re dehydrated, you’ll crave more NaCI, which will help improve your status. Other symptoms associated with dehydration are headaches, decreased urination, and lethargy.
Premenstrual Syndrome
A few days before their period, women tend to feel a wide range of symptoms that go from emotional to physical. Craving salty food is one of the odd cravings that may appear in those days. Certain studies linked those food cravings to hormonal fluctuation.
Stress
A hormone called cortisol is our body’s main coping mechanism to deal with stress. Its principal function is to alter blood pressure, heart rate, and glucose level. When your stress levels go up, it’s normal for your body to crave salt. That way, the adrenal gland can release cortisol.
Pregnancy
As mentioned before, dehydration causes us to lose electrolytes, which our bodies need to function. While salty cravings may not be the first symptom of pregnancy, vomiting is. Studies show that vomiting dehydrates our bodies and causes us to lose essential fluids such as electrolytes.
While salt may be an ingredient with a bad reputation, our bodies need it. For that reason, you need to listen to your cravings. However, take small portions so as not to cause adverse effects on your health.
