People are often drawn to foods that either sweet or salty.  Sweet cravings are usually boiled down to chocolate and dark chocolate and salty cravings usually end up being pretzels amongst other foods.  Do you know where your cravings came from?  Is it a healthy craving?  Well this week’s installment of Medical News Monday will explore the possible origin of someone’s salty desires.

 

Researchers believe they have found a relationship or link salt cravings that begins in infants and preschoolers.  They determined the like and dislike of a salt water solution in 2 month old infants and retested the same babies four months later.  The infants that were exposed to starchy table foods had a tendency to be drawn towards the salty solution.  The researchers went the next step and retested the same infants as preschoolers and found that the “salt-lick toddlers” did just that, actively sought out salty foods.  Why the name “salt-lick toddlers” you may ask?  The babies apparently licked the salt from the surface of the food.  One of their significant findings was that infants introduced to starchy table foods by 6 months preferred salty foods.  The control group, which was fed fruit table food was not associated with “salt-lick toddler” behavior.

 

At six months 43% of the infants eating table food were primarily eating starch based food.  Starch based table foods were said to be ready to eat cereals and mashed potatoes with milk and margarine.  Salt cravings later in life could lead to some health issues as a result of excess salt consumption.

 

If you have learned anything about helping infants in the last two weeks it would be to quit smoking and to make better choices in their diets!  Do you think about your children’s diet and nutrition as much as your own?  Or your own as much as your child’s?

 

1) Smith, Michael.  (2011).  Salt Cravings May Start in Playpen.  MedPage Today.  http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/30355?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&email=brentrhartman@gmail.com&eun=g258129d0r&userid=258129&mu_id=

Photo Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

Brent

Brent

President, Personal Training Manager at Body By Brent LLC
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