Eating salt induces cheerfulness

Interesting research has been carried out with regards to the effects that eating salt may have on people's emotional state of mind.

Scientists have suggested that salt functions as a natural anti-depressant. They say it is one of the reasons why people keep eating salt even though they know it is not good for them. The BBC News website reported the story as well as other news outlets. Researchers from the University of Iowa have published the findings in the journal Psychology and Behavior. Tests on rats led the researchers to discover that the animals started reacting differently when they were given less salt. The rats would avoid activities they enjoyed before the change in salt intake. The researches say that this shows that a lack of salt results in the same symptoms as with depression. Adults don’t need much salt on a daily basis. Most adults take in more salt than is necessary. Often this happens without people knowing because salt is a part of many food products. Too much salt can cause health problems such as high blood pressure.