Research out of one of the most amazing locations for food in the world- Brazil – looked recently at what people with high blood pressure crave to eat as compared to their normal blood pressure counterparts.
The study out of Sao Paulo examined food preferences and found a frustrating trend, but also reason for encouragement, for people who suffer from high blood pressure.
When given the choice of plain bread dipped in varying degrees of salt, researchers in Sao Paulo, Brazil discovered that people with high blood pressure preferred the breads with the highest concentrations when compared to people who have normal blood pressure.
[adrotate group=”5″]This led scientists to theorize that people with high blood pressure may already crave the very substance that exacerbates the hypertension problem.
However, they did find that seasoning bread with low- or no-sodium flavorings diminished the strength of preference for the salty breads in both groups.
The study did not go into the specific reasons that hypertensive adults prefer salty foods, but other studies have shown that it might not be a genetic predisposition. They suggests that people who are under the highest amounts of stress- no matter what the source (environmental, sensory, biological, etc), crave the highest amounts of salt.
It supports the phrase “comfort food.” Stress hormones in the blood have an effect on more than nerves and the cells of our organs. They affect even our taste buds, causing us to crave high-sugar and high-salt foods.
However, stress delivers a knockout punch as well by causing the body to lose its ability to process the additional amounts of sugar and salt, and causing the cells to react as if twice the amount is actually consumed. This leads to higher blood pressure and the cycle continues.
But first, share your thoughts in the comment section below.
This doesn’t seem surprising to me. In fact, isn’t it likely that the hypertension doesn’t cause the salt craving, but rather the salt craving contributes to the hypertension?
Yes,this really doesn’t surprise me,not only on salt craving even on alcohol craving also once I got my one or two shots my body still want some more
This seems strange to me, however, my entire family are bread lovers, all kinds of homemade breads! I do not add salt to my foods, and do not add much salt to what I am cooking. I am sure others want more salt in the food I make and bake, but I abstain. With changing to a salt with natural minerals, I find it takes much less salt for anything I made, and I work at leaving the meals less salty rather than the same as before I became salt cautious.
I am sure we need salt, as well as all the other minerals which come with natural foods; however, I substitute other seasonings and veggie items, such as celery and parsley, and more pepper than I used to use. it all helps me to lower the sodium intake. I do eat nuts each day. Not too many, but that is a daily treat, without salt, that I have come to enjoy. I believe our bodies will be healthier with a handful of healthy nuts each day.
I have never found a very suitable or likeable substitute for salt, even the better tasting ones are not great!
Thanks for the article. It is sure something to consider! georgia
Well, my best food craving is chips….though I choose when I eat them low salt natural and no GMO….So the rest of the time I'm diligent on low salt….again love 1 or 2 slice of bread with jam in the morning…..I suffer through my all life of hypertension and I'm vegetarian and do not drink? So not sure about your theory?