For a long time I thought I was addicted to snack food...or had an oral fixation of some sort. I always had to have some type of snack on hand to munch on what ever I was doing, my favorite being pretzles. After an experiment, I realized that my insufferable cravings to be "eating something" could easily be curbed by a little taste of raw salt every once in a while. Raw sweet onions worked just as well.

What would cause something like this? Could it actually be a physical need? Is there something I could try that could get me away from my onion and salt fix?

that your real need is more water! Many people who snack really have a need to salivate because their mouths are overly dry. Try drinking about 8 cups of water per day (more if you're active) and see if this helps curb your need to snack.

If you are active, your body may also be craving electrolytes (thus the desire for salt).

This question sounds familar.

Yeah sure, it could be a water thing, or it could be that you do not have enough salt in your body, or it could be that your body isn't absorbing the salt properly, or it could be....

There are several things it could be, with out tests we can not say for certain.

Since this is a long term thing, Meaning it has been going on for a time, I will rule out the dehydration theory (Sorry Cold Fuse) and guess at a mineral deficiency - a lot of mineral salts can be improperly absorbed by the body.

Might even be iodine....

Blood tests are in order to find out for certain.

Are you taking any multi-vitamins like a one a day suppliment?

Try that - and I agree with ColdFuse on the need to drink plenty of water -

If after a month you are still having this craving, see a doctor about it.

Cheers

David