Why your body craves salt when it's low
Aldosterone-Sensing Neurons in the NTS Exhibit State-Dependent Pacemaker Activity and Drive Sodium Appetite via Synergy with Angiotensin II Signaling.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Activating salt-craving neurons does NOT make mice eat salt unless angiotensin II is present.
Scientists assumed that low sodium alone would trigger the craving. Instead, the brain requires a dual signal—like a security system needing two codes. This contradicts the old belief that sodium deficiency alone is enough.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re craving salt after intense exercise or illness, your body is likely signaling true sodium deficiency—not just thirst—so reach for electrolytes, not just water.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Activating salt-craving neurons does NOT make mice eat salt unless angiotensin II is present.
Scientists assumed that low sodium alone would trigger the craving. Instead, the brain requires a dual signal—like a security system needing two codes. This contradicts the old belief that sodium deficiency alone is enough.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re craving salt after intense exercise or illness, your body is likely signaling true sodium deficiency—not just thirst—so reach for electrolytes, not just water.
Publication
Journal
Neuron
Year
2017
Authors
J. Resch, Henning Fenselau, Joseph c. Madara, Chen Wu, John N. Campbell, A. Lyubetskaya, Brian A. Dawes, Linus T. Tsai, Monica M. Li, Yoav Livneh, Q. Ke, P. Kang, G. Fejes-Tóth, A. Náray-Fejes-Tóth, Joel C Geerling, B. Lowell
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Claims (8)
Activation of sodium-sensing neurons (NST) by oral sodium intake modulates satiety signaling and reduces appetite.
The same brain cells that sense low salt also have a built-in alarm for angiotensin, a hormone that signals low blood volume—so they respond to both signals together.
Only the salt-sensing brain cells get more active when salt is low—not other nearby cells—and they don’t get the signal from nerves in the gut, meaning they respond directly to hormones in the blood.
It’s not just being thirsty that makes mice eat salt—only when the angiotensin signal is present does turning on salt-craving cells make them lick salt, not when they’re just dehydrated.
Just turning on the salt-craving brain cells doesn't make mice eat salt fast—unless you also trigger the angiotensin signal, then they immediately start licking salt like crazy.