salt could make addiction like drugs or cigarette

it's time to give warning that  salt could make addiction like drugs or cigarette. Don't think it's not dangerous things. Salt has been one of favourite seasoning/flavor all over the world but we never know if salt could make addiction like drugs or cigarette.

The same with cigarettes and illicit drugs, salt was also able to make people addicted. Research shows salt, cigarettes and drugs stimulate the same brain regions. 

This discovery may explain why many people are so difficult to reduce salt intake, although there were warnings about the dangers of high blood pressure and heart health. 


Researchers from Australia and the United States found that the salt can trigger gene, brain cells and brain connections are similar to that done by tobacco and illicit drugs.

"In this study we have shown that one of the classical instinct 'starvation' of salt, providing organizations the same nerves as the addiction to opiates (opium) and cocaine," says Prof Derek Denton of the University of Melbourne, as reported by Timeofindia, Tuesday (11 / 10/2011).

According to Professor Denton, when people eat salty foods will make the brain cells more protein than usual, just as happens when the brain is addicted to heroin, cocaine and nicotine.

The study also revealed that after eating the salt of the brain will believe the body has repaired well after the previous 'starvation' of salt. In other words, changes caused by 'lust' disappearing salt before the salt can leave the gut, enter the bloodstream and reach the brain.

"It is amazing to see a gene that gives a chance 'off' when the loss of sodium (salt) suddenly returned to the initial state in just a few minutes," explained Prof. Denton.

The results of this study have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Previous research also found that foods containing salt will continue to stimulate the brain so that dopamine will light up and make a person continue to think about those foods that will trigger the addiction to food.

Besides taste senses humans do crave salty foods from time to time, so more sugar and salt are eaten, then the desire to continue to eat is also getting stronger. These conditions as well as someone who is addicted to nicotine in cigarettes.

If you think this addiction continually comes up then can lead to obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension). Such diseases are known to cause various complications.

For that community is expected to start to reduce intake of sugar and salt gradually, for example by avoiding eating in front of the television makes a person overeating and reduce stress.