Worth its Salt: Humans crave salty snacks because we need sodium chloride to maintain electrolyte balance in the body
In the pantheon of snack foods, “salty and crunchy” stands on the highest pedestal of cravings. “Salty snacks are supremely satisfying to all consumers,” says Elisa Maloberti, director at the American Egg Board. Everyone has a favorite salty pleasure, whether it’s buttery, hot, freshly popped popcorn, the shatteringly crispy crunch of thick kettle-style potato chips, or cheesy cauliflower protein puffs.