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July 21, 2008, 2:11 pm
Flag as Inappropriate cranberry  

I find myself craving salty snacks frequently - pretzels mostly but chips, too. Are there medical reasons for someone to crave salt or is it just a individual fluke?

Cravings can be emotional, physical or mental in nature. Many people find they crave what they need, such as liver and find out they are anemic later. Sometimes its whatever makes you feel better when you're having a bad day, or possibly hormonal (many women report craving salty items during their menstrual period).

I have heard that certain vitamin deficiencies can cause salt cravings. I too get these frequently but do not recall what types of deficiencies trigger it.

I think it is pretty normal to like salty stuff especially when they are snacks. You just can't yourself eating them. I think with the addictive in it, you wouldn't know that you have finished the whole pack.

I think it depends on how often you are craving them. I know I am more a salty snack person that a sweet snack person. I think this is just individual tastes, not deficiency.

For all you know, there could be a psychological reason for craving hidden deep within your mind. Whatever the case, just don't let yourself get dehydrated from the salt.

As long as you don't make yourself sick when eating the salty foods, I don't think it's a medical problem. That's why there are so many salty snacks out there, they are made to appeal to people's tastes and many people crave salty snacks.

If you are overeating them to the point where you are ill, and you are worried, then you can ask your doctor. But it might also be worth it to force yourself to not eat them. Put yourself on a diet and don't eat salty foods for a while.

If eating salty foods is worrying you, it really might be time to cut them out of your diet.

My mom love salty foods as well. If it did not have a lot of salt on it she really could not eat it. It was just they way she was.