Salt series VII: Salt vs. sugar and the link to increased risk for drug and sugar addiction
Obviousely sugar is sweet and salt is... well, it's salty. There is a reason why we have taste receptors for salt and for sugar. The first one signals "micronutrients", the second one "awesome energy source around!".
Salt and sugar look the same, but they have literally the opposite effect in the body.
Salt is a taste, and it's our gateway to eating healthy. We crave salt. Or why do you think salted fries taste way better than unsalted ones?
Our bodys also crave sugar, if we give it. But the impact on our physiology is completely different regarding this craving.
When an animal is depleted in salt, you can observe it seeking out a salty stone or water source toreplenish salt stores. Otherwise it would die at some point. This applies to humans too! So listen to your body!! Don't consciously restrict your salt intake. Because you cannot really overdue salt (contrary to sugar).
If we overeat it, our body is going to compensate with a built-in safety mechanism. The taste receptors on the tongue will send an aversion signal to the brain to stop you from eating more. When you overdo it in one dish, in the next you won't because the body is going to tell you and you might not salt your next dish.
But with sugar it's different. Sugar makes you want more the more you eat of it. And salt is tightly connected to craving sugar. Salt deficiency might in fact lead to sugar and drug addiction!
When depleted in salt, the body activates the reward system in the brain. You are driven via internal craving to find salt in the diet, you get a greater high from the salt, it also tastes better, it tastes almost sweet when you get it because the body is incredibly happy! The reward system is going to save your life when you are deficient, it literally saves you from dying. It's a very ancient and unconscious pathway for survival.
Here's the problem: This activated sensitized dopamine reward system in the brain can be highjacked by sugar and substances of abuse/drugs! When you consume sugar or drugs in a salt deficient state, it makes you crave it because it activates the same neuronal pathways as with salt. And the brain wants more of this "high" and happy state caused by dopamine.
Here two other nice to know facts about salt and sugar: High sugar/low salt diets cause insulin resistance while low sugar/high salt increases insulin sensitivity. And the Romans put salt on their gum and teeth to prevent inflammation, while dental caries is caused by sugar.
Read the last article here: Conclusions and final thoughts, how do I know if I might be salt deficient and my personal experience
