IOWA CITY, Iowa, Mar 11, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Researchers at the University
of Iowa suggest that the reason many people consume too much salt is because it
puts people in a better mood.
Psychologist Kim Johnson and colleagues found that when rats are deficient in
sodium chloride -- common table salt -- they shy away from activities they
normally enjoy, like drinking a sugary substance or pressing a bar that
stimulates a pleasant sensation in their brains.
"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," Johnson said in a statement.
Past research showed that worldwide average for salt intake per individual is
about 10 grams per day, which is greater than the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration recommended intake by about 4 grams -- and may exceed what the
body actually needs by more than 8 grams, Johnson said.
Today, 77 percent of U.S. salt intake comes from processed and restaurant foods,
such as frozen dinners and fast food, Johnson said.
Johnson explained that one sign of addiction is using a substance even when it's
known to be harmful -- many people are told to reduce sodium due to health
concerns, but they have trouble doing so because they like the taste and find
low-sodium foods bland.
The findings were published in the journal Physiology & Behavior.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International