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Are we addicted to salt?
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Psychologists at the University of Iowa (UI) have found that salt seems to act as nature’s anti-depressant. In fact, there is a growing inclination that humans may literally be addicted to the substance.
In a series of studies, it was shown that rats that were deficient in salt did not participate in normal, fun activities such pushing a lever that created a pleasant feeling in the brain. "Things that normally would be pleasurable for rats didn't elicit the same degree of relish, which leads us to believe that a salt deficit and the craving associated with it can induce one of the key symptoms associated with depression," Kim Johnson, leader of the study, said. [UI]
Humans (as well as most animals) need salt to survive. The sodium it contains helps the body to function normally. However, most of us consume far too much. In past studies, it was shown that “worldwide average for salt intake per individual is about 10 grams per day, which is greater than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended intake by about 4 grams, and may exceed what the body actually needs by more than 8 grams.” [UI]
It cannot be said with absolute certainty that the salt-deficient rats are actually clinically depressed, but the lack of participation in engaging activities is one of the hallmark signs of depression. And if salt is a natural anti-depressant, it may explain why humans willing ingest far more than necessary even though they are well aware of the negative side-effects of high-sodium diets, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
The study took the train of thought on step further. Not only is salt perhaps a natural anti-depressant, but it is so much so that humans now abuse it like an addictive drug. Even though we know it is bad, we cannot stop ourselves from consuming mass quantities. And we get titchy if we don’t get enough.
“Experiments by Johnson and colleagues indicate similar changes in brain activity whether rats are exposed to drugs or salt deficiency. ‘This suggests that salt need and cravings may be linked to the same brain pathways as those related to drug addiction and abuse,’ Johnson said.” [UI]
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