Describe in scientific terms why the salty popcorn cause this thirst.?

Question

Mention changes in specific body cells, thanks . (:

Answer 1

Any salt would have the same effect.

In essence, your body is an osmosis machine. When you put salt into your stomach, you have a chemical potential in which a lot of salt is on one side of the walls of the cells lining your stomach and your body's natural salty cytoplasm (cell matter) is on the other side. The salt level in cytoplasm is far lower than the amount of salt you ingested with your popcorn.

This cell wall is what is called a semipermeable membrane. I.e. stuff CAN get through it. Like, water can enter or leave.

To make up for the chemical imbalance, your body needs to flush the salt with water. Well, it can do that - but doing so depletes the water in your system. To compensate for water loss, your body says "I'm thirsty."

The same effect occurs for a different reason when you sweat a lot. Your body uses water to coat your skin, leading to evaporation. Evaporating 1 ml of water takes not less than 540 calories. (Note: The "calories" on the box of chocolates are actually kilocalories but the food industry uses a different standard - even though they know better). So the water you emitted cools you through evaporation - but now you are low on water and you get thirsty again.

Answer 2

You eat the salt. It gets absorbed into your blood via the stomach. This increases the osmolality of your blood - basically, means it attracts more water (since it contains more salt).

This is detected by osmoreceptors (receptors that detect osmalality) in your brain. They then send signals to another part of your brain (subfornical organ), causing you to feel thirsty.