It is normal to hear people crave it but still many people are curious about their health and ask the question, why am I craving salt? If you crave salt, it means you are not getting enough salt from your diet as a result you crave it.
Secondly your need to achieve a certain level of fluid to function properly if it falls from the actual level, you start craving salt which simply means dehydration. Level of sodium also causes craving also called electrolyte imbalance. In this article, we will answer the questions like (why do I crave salt) and discuss all possible reasons behind your craving.
Why Do I Crave Salt?
There are serval reasons behind your salt craving it might be due to a lack of nutrients or maybe you are hungry or you want to eat salty foods at that time. Well, let’s discuss the reason for the craving in detail.
Dehydration:
Dehydration happens when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn’t have adequate water and other fluids to perform the daily tasks. Dehydration is must a reason behind salt cravings because in this situation you want to eat or drink more. there are a few indication signs when you crave salt like cold, clammy skin, dizziness, feeling very thirsty and headache.
Daily intake of salt, and water easily full field the water requirement of your body and also helps to stay hydrated all day.
Electrolyte Imbalance:
Electrolyte imbalance happens when you have too much or no abundance of certain minerals in your body salt craving occurs when your electrolyte imbalance because salt contains sodium and it is one of such minerals that your body needs to function properly.
Electrolyte imbalance observed by following symptoms such as headache, nausea or vomiting, fatigue or loss of energy, irritability and mood changes and confusion.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS):
During your periods you may experience many symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings, food craving (salty and sweet food) irritability and depression. So it is clear from the above discussion that Premenstrual Syndrome is the possible reason behind your craving.
Stress:
We don’t always eat to satisfy our physical hunger sometimes we eat for our comfort to get relief from stress and get internal pleasure salty food is comfort food for many people it might be the reason behind your salt craving.
As we know salt is the perfect comfort food because after eating it you feel fuller and it gives warm satisfaction to your mind that’s why you crave it. Salt contains sodium and which is an important mineral that our body needs, helps to uplift our mood, and in this way, you get relief from your stress.
Why Am I Craving Salt All of a Sudden?
As mentioned earlier salt is a great source of minerals like sodium and it’s possible you are lacking this mineral that’s why you crave salt all of a sudden.
Add salt to your food to satisfy your urge further it is also beneficial for your health. sudden cravings might be due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance and they all show symptoms like headache, nausea or vomiting, fatigue or loss of energy, irritability and mood changes, and confusion.
How to Stop Craving Salt?
As we can see, salt is a pack of essential vitamins and minerals; if your body lacks these, it will cause salt cravings. If you want to stop craving it you have to eat enough amount of salt in your diet it may help to stop craving it.
Additionally, you can eat other alternatives to salt that provide the same mineral to your body such as 1. Garlic · 2. Lemon juice or zest · 3. Ground black pepper · 4. Dill · 5. Dried onion or onion powder.
Craving Salt During Pregnancy
Craving salt during pregnancy could be a sign that your body is deficient in minerals such as sodium which is very necessary for the proper growth of the baby. Mood swings might be a reason behind cravings and most women desire to eat salty and sweet food.
In this situation, women need an extra amount of minerals furthermore salt is full of benefits and also gives prevention from many diseases. Due to hormonal changes, many women crave it because they miss the unique texture of salty food.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you eat too much salt?
Yes, you can eat too much salt the reason is clear in front of you as it is full of benefits and healthy food for you. Additionally, it provides a great number of nutrients to your body.
If you really like the taste of salt and salty food and you want it daily then you have to fix a sufficient amount of it according to your need. Keep in mind overeating causes health diseases including heart failure, high blood pressure, kidney disease, kidney stones, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, and stroke.
What deficiency causes you to crave salt?
Usually, salt craving is caused by mineral deficiency further people who are not taking enough amount of minerals in their diet also crave salt. dehydration also causes a craving for it because salt craving encourages you to eat food and fluids. Further, the other main reason is you find comfort in eating salty food that’s why you crave them.
What to eat when craving salt?
As we discussed, salt contains sodium, which is the mineral that our body needs but not just salt provides minerals you can try other substitutes of salt such as :
These alternatives easily provide a sufficient of amount minerals to your body and also give satisfaction to your appetite.
Conclusion
In this whole discussion, we elaborated on the craving for salt and the reason behind them furthermore we also talked about the other situation in which you crave salt. Mainly we mentioned in this article that salt is a great source of minerals that are part of our healthy diet. Overall salt is very beneficial and keeps us healthy and fit. I hope this information is helpful for you and clarifies your thoughts regarding salt cravings.
