I normally have a huge sweet tooth, but ever since I started my new job I’ve had insatiable salt cravings. I’m polishing off a bag of chips in a day, and these binges are starting to show up on my waistline. How do I get rid of these cravings?
Salt cravings can signal adrenal fatigue, especially when accompanied by stress (like from a new job), belly fat, heartburn and under-eye circles. The problem: Overworked adrenal glands produce excess aldosterone, a hormone that disrupts cells’ sodium balance.
Salt is necessary to get the adrenals back to optimal health, so you’ll want to continue to consume up to 1 tsp daily. But opt for sea salt or pink Himalayan salt, which are rich in nourishing minerals. And you should aim to eat at least three servings of magnesium-rich foods daily, like 1 cup of spinach or Swiss chard, 1 cup of cooked quinoa, 1 cup of pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds and 4 oz of halibut or tuna. Magnesium dampens the adrenals’ output of stress hormones to give the glands a chance to recover and recharge. Your salt cravings, and the belly bulge, should start to disappear within four weeks.
