Do I have a salt deficiency?

To speculate, I’d have to know what the rest of your diet looks like. I mean, if you eat fast food all the time, then probably not. But if you eat healthily with moderate or low levels of salt in your diet, it’s definitely possible. I think the body generally lets you know what it needs by giving you cravings.

I had a bout of what I’m pretty sure was e. coli and I had the weirdest craving for onions. I love onions, but never crave them. I looked it up and discovered that they help rid the body of toxins. I thought that was pretty cool.

Also, if you work out frequently, your body could be losing salt that way.

I don’t eat much salty food really, I don’t eat much in general.

My friend was taking a medication that made her leach salt. One day she cried, and her tears didn’t taste salty. That was her first clue.

If anything it is salt “addiction” not salt deficiency. There is some amount of salt in just about everything we eat. A salt deficiency is quite rare, generally people are trying to find ways to avoid and cut salt consumption.

You say you don’t eat much. Does that go with drinking water as well? You may have a desire for salt if you are dehydrated. But it can also be an addiction. What snowberry said seems a reasonable way to find out. Tears should be salty.

You should go to Big Bone Lick State Park to satisfy your craving for salt.

http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/recparks/bb/

I don’t drink much water, buI LOTS of milk and juice.

I get massive cravings for those Lays Salt & Vinegar potato chips, but I wouldn’t call it a “salt craving”; I just love potato chips and those in particular. I’ll eat a few bags a year, a half-bag at a time (literally, a bag about every three or four months).

I have been consciously laying off salt for a few years now. I never cook with it, and only add it when I cook french fries (which is rare). And since most of my food is fresh and / or home-prepared, I know most of my salt sources. Even with this conscious limiting, I’m sure that I get way more than enough salt from the few processed foods that I do consume, as well as the natural / fresh ingredients I also use.