Does salt addiction exist?

Abstract

BackgroundSalt consumption activates the brain reward system, inducing cravings and the search for salted food. Its excessive intake is associated with high blood pressure and obesity. The high quantity of salt in processed food is most likely a major cause of the global pandemic of hypertension (HT). ObjectiveTo review the current information on the topic of salt addiction and the health consequences this has. MethodA search in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and EBSCOhost databases was conducted with the keywords "salt", "salt addiction", and "food addiction". Articles with information relative to the topic of interest were checked, as were references of those articles and historical and culturally complementary information. ResultsWe described the historical relationship between man and salt, the physiology of salty taste perception, its role in the reward system and the health consequences of a high sodium diet. Discussion and conclusionThere is physiological and behavioural evidence that some people may develop a true addiction to food. Among these people, salt addiction seems to be of great importance in the development of obesity, HT and other diseases. Sodium is present in high quantities in processed food as salt and monosodium glutamate (MSG), used as flavour enhancers and food preservatives, including in non-salty foods like bread and soft drinks.Key words: Salt, salt addiction, food addiction. RESUMEN AntecedentesEl consumo de sal activa el sistema de recompensa cerebral, induciendo el deseo y búsqueda de alimentos salados. Su ingesta excesiva se asocia a presión arterial elevada y obesidad. La gran cantidad de sal en los alimentos procesados ha permitido que la hipertensión (HT) se instale hoy día como una pandemia. ObjetivoRevisar la bibliografía existente en el tema de adicción a la sal y sus consecuencias en la salud. MétodoSe realizó una búsqueda en bases de datos PubMed, EBSCOhost y ScienceDirect con las palabras claves "salt", "salt addiction", "food addiction"; se revisaron los artículos que contuvieran información relativa al tema de interés así como referencias en estos mismos artícu-los e información histórica y cultural complementaria. ResultadosDescribimos la relación histórica entre el hombre y la sal, los mecanismos fisiológicos de percepción del sabor salado, su acción sobre el sistema de recompensa y las consecuencias en la salud de una dieta alta en sodio. Discusión y conclusiónExiste evidencia fisiológica y comportamental de que las personas pueden desarrollar una verdadera adicción a la ingestión de alimentos. Entre estas personas la adición a la sal juega un papel muy importante para el desarrollo de obesidad, hipertensión y otras enfermedades. El sodio está presente en altas cantidades en los alimentos procesados en forma de sal y glutamato monosódico (MSG), usados como conservadores o aditivos alimentarios, incluso en alimentos no salados como harinas y refrescos dulces.Palabras clave: Sal, adicción a la sal, adicción a los alimentos.

Double Burden of Poverty and Cardiovascular Disease Risk among Low-Resource Communities in South Africa

“…Another contributor to sodium intake in SA is sodium glutamate that is used as a condiment, [163] as well as salt in soup, gravy and spice mixes and powders, margarine and atchar, a spicy condiment, [163] biscuits/cookies, and breakfast cereals [164]. Stock cubes are regularly used for flavouring meat and vegetable dishes in SA [165,166]. High stock cube consumption has also been observed in these communities by the authors.…”

Eating ourselves to death: How food is a drug and what food abuse costs

“…Studies of salt show it can lead to cravings, physical dependence, and tolerance (Soto-Escageda et al, 2016). Soto-Escageda and colleagues (2016: 180) conclude that "salt is categorically an addictive substance just as psychotropic drugs, as they share cerebral pathways that perpetuate their excessive consumption."…”

Food and beverages undermining elderly health: three food-based dietary guidelines to avoid or delay chronic diseases of lifestyle among the elderly in South Africa

“…116 Other foods consumed in SA that one might not expect to have salt are biscuits/cookies, cakes and breakfast cereals. 117 Recently, many flavouring and spice mixes (e.g. bobotie spice mix, braai mix) have become available on the market and these usually contain salt.…”

“…Salt is often used to preserve foods, 123 and the salt content is thus high in processed meats such as ham and sausages. 117 Salt and other ingredients such as sugar and fat have a psycho-sensory dimension that the food industry has capitalised on by creating formulations to produce satiety, pleasure and a 'feel good' feeling known as hedonia. 123 Howard Moskowitz, an American market researcher and psychophysicist, referred to the amount of salt that people perceived as just right as the 'bliss point' and described how this can be manipulated in the development of 'craveable' foods such as chips and fried foods that customers would crave and ultimately purchase more of.…”