Different people have different ways of dealing with stress. Some like to prepare a scented bath and soak in it for a while; others switch off the lights and put on some soothing music; yet other head straight for the refrigerator, pull out the biggest tub of ice cream and pig out all by themselves. I know someone who likes to tackle stress by attacking with great vengeance all the weeds in her garden. To each their own, I guess. You can’t always explain why one activity seems to calm you down more than the others. However, if you are the kind that finds solace in salty and crispy snacks or savory munchies, scientist will be able to explain the whys and wherefores of this phenomenon.
According to a research conducted by University of Cincinnati, which was subsequently published in the Journal of Neuroscience, French fries and potato chips make excellent comfort food for the reason that the high levels of salt in them blunts your body’s response to stress. This happens because the excess amount of salt in these food trigger the production of oxytocin – a hormone that is related to feelings of love and social interaction.
While it increases the levels of this cuddle hormone, excessive salt also blocks the release of angiotensin II – which in medical circles is commonly referred to as the stress hormone. This chemical has been identified as the key factor in causing inflammatory responses in individuals who are on the verge of a nervous meltdown.
High salt level in the body is a condition that is described as hypernatremia. The above mentioned study examined and documented hypernatremic rats and the difference in behavior they exhibited when compared to non-hypernatremic rats. When faced with a stressful situation – such as being tied down – rats with higher amounts of salt in their body seemed to cope with it better. Their non-hypernatremic counterparts, on the other hand, showed more activity in their brain’s stress center when exposed to nerve-racking situations. In addition, it was also noticed that hypernatremic rats had increased levels of the love hormone oxytocin in their bodies. Not only did it lower the stress levels in them, it also aided social interactions by alleviating anxiety.
This is probably why watering holes across the world serve salty snacks along with drinks. And here you were thinking that it was the alcohol that was loosening your tongue. Turns out that it was the salt-rich snacks coming to your rescue and helping you overcome your inhibitions.
Having said that, please don’t take this as an open invitation to gorge yourself silly on foods that are ridiculously high on salt. You are just getting yourself a one way ticket to the land of heart diseases and high blood pressure. And you aren’t going to be too happy or stress-free either when you reach there. The moral of the story – look at other means of busting stress, will you? One that has fewer side-effects and medical problems following in its wake!
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