What a role does NaCl supplement play in human evolution?

[hanhan2008]

Not sure if somebody else has sparked such a topic. I wonder how convincing to state that NaCl, among other things, contribute to our (apparently) higher IQs compared with other organisms. When think about this, don't forget that excessive NaCl intake contributes to increased occurrence of cardiovascular diseases among human populations.

[mith]

not very convincing.

[hanhan2008]

Thanks. Just wonder if it's a possibility (if not convincing) why we human beings are smarter than other animals. Only humans take table salts intentionally while other animals don't.

[canalon]

Put a cube of salt in field where cows are grazing, and see what happens. And Although it seems comon practice I do no think tha cows have notably improved their intelligence

[mith]

That probably has more to do with us being terrestrial than with us being the only ones that take in salt. If you live in the sea, you actually get rid of it.

[hanhan2008]

That's a good point! What about cooked food in IQ improvement (again, on evolutionary time scale )?

[mith]

No, because you can't compare it with other species(not testable hypothesis). I think we're the only ones who cook.

[GegnianMD]

Not sure if somebody else has sparked such a topic. I wonder how convincing to state that NaCl, among other things, contribute to our (apparently) higher IQs compared with other organisms. When think about this, don't forget that excessive NaCl intake contributes to increased occurrence of cardiovascular diseases among human populations.

I am not sure of the antiquity of high consume of NaCl in cows or humans.
Microinyections of NaCl dilutions in the brain of a mice report an elevation of SNS activities (Scielo). Maybe is related.