A table overlooking the sea, with a cold drink accompanied by olives, crisps, nuts, perhaps a tin of sardines or fried fish and chips. Even if you aren’t particularly hungry, the seaside atmosphere seems to demand this kind of savoury, salty food. Is it just force of habit, a physiological need, or does the sea somehow awaken a craving for salt?
The prime suspect is sweat. At the beach, we walk, swim, play and sunbathe, and although the breeze may mask it, we lose water and electrolytes in the process. These include sodium, which is essential for maintaining fluid balance, transmitting nerve impulses, and enabling muscle function.
