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0What does a salt tooth mean for your health?
You've probably heard of a sweet tooth, the term for people who love sugary foods and desserts, but you might be less familiar with a salt tooth. In other words, a preference for salty foods such as crisps, olives, cheese and other salty things.
What causes a salt tooth and is it bad for your health?
According to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions meeting in 2016, there is a genetic basis for your salt cravings. Some people carry a variation of a gene that may give them more of a taste for salt.
This gene also affects how people perceive bitterness, which may explain why people with a salt tooth tend to avoid foods such as broccoli and dark leafy greens.
But having a salt tooth doesn't mean you can indulge in salty snacks without consequences. The World Health Organization recommends limiting your sodium intake to five grams per day, which is the equivalent to about one teaspoon of salt.
Consuming too much sodium can raise your blood pressure, which can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney problems.
In fact, the British Heart Foundation estimated that if everyone reduced their sodium intake to the recommended level by 2030, there'd be up to 1.4 million fewer new cases of high blood pressure, 135,000 fewer new cases of coronary heart disease and 49,000 fewer new cases of stroke.
So how can you satisfy your salt tooth without harming your health?
The WHO estimates that 80% of the salt we consume has been added during the manufacturing process. So one of the easiest ways to reduce your salt is to start making your own food.
And, once you're in the kitchen, use herbs and spices to flavour your food like garlic, onion, lemon, vinegar, pepper, cumin or paprika to add some zest to your dishes instead of salt.
Read nutrition labels and avoid processed food that is high in sodium, such as canned soups, sauces, dressings, snacks and ready meals. Look for low-sodium or no-salt-added options when possible. Drink plenty of water to help flush out excess sodium from your body and keep yourself hydrated.
Finally, here's some advice from Dr Stuart Grice, a geneticist and the Chief Scientific Officer at the Fitness Genes from the Guardian newspaper:
When a salt craving hits, avoid going straight for salty snack foods such as crisps and instead ensure you're well hydrated.
Seek out whole foods such as olives and leafy greens, which are rich in polyphenols, magnesium and calcium. These foods will help alleviate salt cravings, which may often be due to a desire for nutrient-rich food. There you have it.
词汇表
sweet tooth 嗜甜，爱吃甜食
salt tooth 嗜咸，爱吃咸食
crisp [krɪsp] n. （英式）炸薯片
olive [ˈɒlɪv] n. 橄榄
genetic basis [dʒəˈnetɪk] 遗传基础
craving [ˈkreɪvɪŋ] n. 渴望，强烈的欲望
variation [ˌveəriˈeɪʃn] n. 变异，变化，变种
gene [dʒiːn] n. 基因
bitterness [ˈbɪtənəs] n. 苦味
broccoli [ˈbrɒkəli] n. 西兰花，花椰菜
leafy greens [ˈliːfi ɡriːnz] 绿叶蔬菜
indulge in [ɪnˈdʌldʒ] 沉溺于，放纵于
sodium intake [ˈsəʊdiəm ˈɪnteɪk] 钠摄入量
teaspoon [ˈtiːspuːn] n. 茶匙，一茶匙的量
stroke [strəʊk] n. 中风
kidney problems [ˈkɪdni ˈprɒbləmz] 肾脏病，肾脏问题
high blood pressure 高血压
coronary heart disease [ˈkɒrənəri] 冠心病
herb [hɜːb] n. 香草，药草
spice [spaɪs] n. 香料，调味品
flavour [ˈfleɪvə(r)] vt. 给……调味
garlic [ˈɡɑːlɪk] n. 大蒜
cumin [ˈkʌmɪn] n. 孜然，小茴香
paprika [pəˈpriːkə] n. 红辣椒粉
zest [zest] n. 风味，趣味；兴致，热情
canned soups [kænd suːps] 罐装汤，罐头汤
dressing [ˈdresɪŋ] n. 沙拉酱，调味汁
ready meals [ˈredi miːlz] 即食餐，预制餐
flush out [flʌʃ] 冲洗，清除，排出
keep yourself hydrated [haɪdreɪtɪd] 保持身体水分充足，多补水 geneticist [dʒəˈnetɪsɪst] n. 遗传学家
polyphenol [ˌpɒliˈfiːnɒl] n. 多酚
magnesium [mæɡˈniːziəm] n. 镁
calcium [ˈkælsiəm] n. 钙
alleviate [əˈliːvieɪt] vt. 减轻，缓解
nutrient-rich [ˈnjuːtriənt rɪtʃ] adj. 营养丰富的，富含营养的
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