Salt has been used in all parts of the world since forever. Maybe that's why people don't get to notice how pervasive and often its use is--they're very used to it. Some people can be really cranky and would describe a food bland if it has no salt in it.

I agree, the overuse of salt these days is a huge problem. I'm trying to cut down my families intake. I stopped buying regular salt and now buy the salt with 1/2 the sodium. I think next time I will buy the no-salt seasoning that is supposed to taste like salt.

do you have some good ways to keep sodium down in your own foods? I like to use Sea salt, and extra herbs and veggies to mask the missing salt. What do you do?

I'm a saltaholic as well. I have switched to only using Sea Salt because it is better for you since it is just seawater evaporated without any of the chemicals used in mining regular table salt. It also has a less salty taste than regular table salt. You also use less since the sea salt granulars are usually larger than the fine grains of table salt. Since my husband does not use salt I add the salt after the food is cooked which is better for preserving the beneficial minerals of the sea salt.

I haven't touched a salt shaker in 20 years so you saltaholics can change. You're getting plenty of salt through regular foods you eat like ketchup and pickles. Toss out the salt shaker while salt tastes good to us it make use retain water and may cause yet unknown troubles since it's only recently that were usings alt in such quantities.