The Uncovered Side of Salt

By: Shagun Mohan

Everyone consumes salt in their diet, however the problem is that they consume too much of what is necessary for the body. Scientists, Kim Johnson and colleagues from the College of Arts and Liberal Sciences, hypothesize that salt may be “nature’s antidepressant”. An experiment was conducted in which the results shown were that rats that were deficient in sodium chloride, table salt, refused to do things that gave them pleasure, such as drinking a sugary substance. Johnson believes that a deficiency in salt is related to depression. She says, “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.” This correlation cannot lead to the conclusion that this is completely true, however a loss in pleasure in normally pleasing activities is an important component of depression.

Research has shown that people consume about 10 grams of salt per day, which is more than double what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends, which is 4 grams. Studies have shown that evolution may play a role in human’s desire for salt. Humans are derived form creatures that used to live in the salty ocean water. However, when creatures became adapted to land, their bodies still needed salt because minerals, such as salt, serve important roles in allowing fluids to pass in and out of the body cells. Also, minerals help nerve cells transfer information throughout the brain (between neurons) and throughout the body. According to theories, once man starting living in hot Africa, perspiration took away the sodium in our bodies.

Studies have shown that even though humans need salt, they are becoming addicted to it. It is becoming like a drug. One reason is because people are aware of the harm excess salt brings, which is high blood pressure and heart disease. Yet, people Table Salt (NaCl) closeup

continue to consume more than needed. Experiments conducted by Kim

Johnson and assistants show how the human brain reacts to things when he or she is addicted to something. The brain acts a certain way when it has a craving for a drug. Similar changes in the brain activity have been shown in the experiments where mice are exposed to drugs or are salt deficient.

This is interesting because it shows how a daily food ingredient can overtime evolve and become similar to a drug. While salt may not be considered as a stereotypical drug, it still is harmful and should be consumed warily. It is difficult to avoid salt because large amounts of salt are in processed food, which can be found in restaurants and frozen foods. While it may be hard to avoid, it is imperative that people do become aware of how salt can adversely affect one’s health and become addicted to it.

References:

http://www.nanographics.biz/images/Salt.jpg

http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2009/march/031009salt_antidepressant.html



		The Uncovered Side of Salt By: Shagun Mohan Everyone consumes salt in their diet, however the problem is that they consume too much of what is necessary for the body. Scientists, Kim Johnson and colleagues from the College of Arts and Liberal Sciences, hypothesize that salt may be “nature’s antidepressant”. An experiment was conducted in which the results shown were that rats that were deficient in sodium chloride, table salt, refused to do things that gave them pleasure, such as drinking a sugary substance. Johnson believes that a deficiency in salt is related to depression. She says, “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.” This correlation cannot lead to the conclusion that this is completely true, however a loss in pleasure in normally pleasing activities is an important component of depression. Research has shown that people consume about 10 grams of salt per day, which is more than double what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends, which is 4 grams. Studies have shown that evolution may play a role in human’s desire for salt. Humans are derived form creatures that used to live in the salty ocean water. However, when creatures became adapted to land, their bodies still needed salt because minerals, such as salt, serve important roles in allowing fluids to pass in and out of the body cells. Also, minerals help nerve cells transfer information throughout the brain (between neurons) and throughout the body. According to theories, once man starting living in hot Africa, perspiration took away the sodium in our bodies. Studies have shown that even though humans need salt, they are becoming addicted to it. It is becoming like a drug. One reason is because people are aware of the harm excess salt brings, which is high blood pressure and heart disease. Yet, people Table Salt (NaCl) closeup continue to consume more than needed. Experiments conducted by Kim Johnson and assistants show how the human brain reacts to things when he or she is addicted to something. The brain acts a certain way when it has a craving for a drug. Similar changes in the brain activity have been shown in the experiments where mice are exposed to drugs or are salt deficient. This is interesting because it shows how a daily food ingredient can overtime evolve and become similar to a drug. While salt may not be considered as a stereotypical drug, it still is harmful and should be consumed warily. It is difficult to avoid salt because large amounts of salt are in processed food, which can be found in restaurants and frozen foods. While it may be hard to avoid, it is imperative that people do become aware of how salt can adversely affect one’s health and become addicted to it. References: http://www.nanographics.biz/images/Salt.jpg http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2009/march/031009salt_antidepressant.html