We’ve all heard about having a sweet tooth, but what about a salt tooth?
As the name suggests, it’s a description for someone who adores salty food, and I’m one of them.
Put a block of chocolates and a packet of barbecue shapes in front of me and it’s no contest, those salty snacks are going to win out every time.
But what’s going on and do we need to ‘fix’ it?
Well, it may be in our genes.
According to Live Science, a study found people who had a certain variation of a gene called TAS2R48 were more likely to eat more salt than those who did not have the variant.
Geneticist Dr Stuart Grice told The Guardian that particular genetic variants affect the way different people perceive the taste of salt.
Unfortunately, Dr Grice says the same genes are also linked to obesity.
Delicious food
Dr Grice says if you find salt more delicious then you are going to find food more delicious, which can easily lead to overeating and obesity.
Everyone knows too much salt is bad for you. It can lead to high blood pressure and many other health conditions including kidney disease and strokes.
The British Heart Foundation claims that if everyone brought down their consumption of salt to the recommended 5g a day in the UK there would be up to 1.4m fewer new cases of high blood pressure, 135,000 fewer new cases of coronary heart disease, up to 49,000 fewer new cases of stroke and more than 450,000 extra years in good health.
The World Health Organization estimates an effective salt-reduction program could save an estimated seven million lives globally.
“Unhealthy diets are a leading cause of death and disease globally, and excessive sodium intake is one of the main culprits,” said WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Our bodies also retain too much fluid if we keep our salt levels high.
Cut down on those cravings
So how do you cut down on your salt craving?
The easiest step is to cut down on processed foods. A good guide is that what you are eating has an ingredients list you probably shouldn’t eat it, or at least leave it for ‘treat’ days.
A special mention to anything with the word ‘instant’ in it. They are usually loaded with salt.
You can also replace the salt when cooking with spices, herbs or citrus dressings or flavourings. But once again don’t buy those pre-prepared herb and spice mixes, they are generally loaded with salt.
You can also go nuts. Yes, really. For that umami flavour bomb why not try a handful of pumpkin seeds or nuts. A hummus cup with crudité vegetables is another satisfying way to fight your salt cravings.
Think about your craving and try and replace it with something else such as lean protein. For example, a boiled egg or vegie shake.
Do you have a salt tooth? Do you try to control cravings? Why not share your experience in the comments section below?
Also read: Many Australians at risk of heart failure have no idea
