The doctor told about the causes of cravings for salty food

Cravings for salty foods can be either a temporary reaction to stress or fatigue, or a sign of serious disorders in the body. Also, the constant desire to eat something salty may indicate a lack of minerals, hormonal imbalance or chronic diseases. Ekaterina Kashukh, an expert at the Hemotest laboratory and gastroenterologist, told Izvestia on April 16 what health problems provoke cravings for salty foods and how to control them.

"The chemical name of the salt is sodium chloride (NaCl). Salt consists of sodium and chlorine ions. The body needs sodium to maintain the water-salt balance, the nervous system and muscles," explained the doctor.

However, she warned that excessive salt intake — more than 5 grams per day — increases the risk of hypertension, kidney disease and cardiovascular diseases.

According to the gastroenterologist, the reasons for the increased need for salty foods can be divided into physiological and psychological. Physiological conditions include, for example, dehydration. When there is a lack of fluid, the body loses electrolytes and tries to restore its water balance. The signal may be an obsessive desire to eat something salty. Dehydration often occurs after intense workouts and in the heat, when a person sweats profusely and loses electrolytes along with sweat, as well as alcohol abuse.

"The problem may be related to the functioning of the kidneys and adrenal glands. For example, with adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease), adrenal hormones are produced in low concentrations. There is a deficiency of aldosterone, a hormone that regulates the level of sodium and potassium in the blood," the doctor noted.

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Patients with this diagnosis, according to Kashuh, often experience a strong craving for salt due to the loss of sodium, which is excessively excreted in the urine. Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include fatigue, low blood pressure, and darkening of the skin.

The doctor clarified that some kidney disorders can also lead to a change in taste preferences. For example, in Bartter syndrome, a rare genetic disorder— the kidneys cannot retain sodium and potassium. This leads to a chronic electrolyte deficiency and a constant desire to eat salty foods.

Sometimes women experience a special craving for salty foods during certain phases of the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. This is usually normal and is associated with hormonal changes, and in the case of pregnancy, it is also associated with an increase in the volume of circulating blood.

The psychological causes of overeating include stress, chronic fatigue, lack of sleep, and sometimes simple boredom. Cortisol, a stress hormone, affects water-salt metabolism, and salty food temporarily stimulates the release of dopamine, creating a feeling of comfort.

"True hunger is distinguished from the desire to "chew something" from boredom or tension, for example, by rumbling in the stomach and willingness to eat any food, rather than any specific one," the specialist added.

She warned that if cravings for salty food are accompanied by weakness, dizziness, or swelling, it is important to rule out diseases of the adrenal glands, kidneys, or mineral deficiencies. Blood tests for sodium, potassium, cortisol, and aldosterone will help identify disorders.

To take care of yourself and not overeat salty foods, you need to normalize your water balance and develop the habit of drinking water throughout the day. Alternative spices during cooking will help to overcome the habit of eating over-salted food: herbs, garlic, paprika.

"It is important to be careful with the use of ready—made products - sausages, sausages, cheeses, snacks and sauces: they often contain hidden salt," Kashukh warned.

Earlier, on April 11, Artur Bogatyrev, a urologist and andrologist at the SM Clinic Center for Reproductive Health, told Izvestia which foods destroy the kidneys. The doctor noted that in the presence of renal pathologies, foods with a high content of oxalates should be excluded. These include spinach, nuts, French fries, chips, sorrel, beetroot, bran, and chocolate. The andrologist also recommends limiting avocado consumption due to its high potassium content.