Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sodium is good for you because your body needs Na for proper nerve functions. In addition the Iodine that added to it prevents goiters. And salt is important to keep your blood pressure from plummeting. That's why some people who get dizzy spells when they're sick its because they're eating all bland food/ not enough food and not enough salt, the salt will bring up their blood pressure and will let them sit up and stand up without toppling over.

But its "Bad" for you because in todays world we are using excess of it. And because we are animals we crave salt just like we crave sugar, but we crave salt more than any other flavors.

For some people excess salt can increase blood pressure creating hypertension, upset your digestion and cause kidney problems because they're unable to process it quickly enough. Some people can gain weight from too much salt, verses some people like me will lose more weight from too much salt-because of the iodine- because Iodine irritates my thyroid (hyperthyroidism). salt is also additive. Mcdonalds best French Fry recipe is Salt and Sugar = 2 favorite additive flavors to make you crave more.

Recommended is 2400mg daily, but as you can see with most of our foods even in cereals there is sodium.

There is low sodium soy sauce, that you can use as an alternative, and it tastes just about the same (is Asian uses quite a bit of soy sauce in foods)

I actually went on a Low/no sodium diet once, because I needed some testing done and it was a week of low/no Na. It was HARD for the first few days and got easier because I learned to use other flavorings such as lemon juice for seasoning, in my pepper steak, (tenderized beef, red and green peppers and lemon with garlic). After my test, I was allow to go back to my normal diet, and let me tell you everything was "TOO SALTY!" so there is a benefit of having a low sodium diet, you crave less eventually and you gain back some amazing taste sensations!

If you eat lots of veggies and fruits then you have not much to worry about.

Its the packaged foods you have to watch out for. Cereal to salad dressing.

If you like salad, don't be fooled by 'low fat or low sodium' dressings or that silly 'spray dressing'. Best to have your salad, plain, then next to you a tiny dipping cup of your dressing and dip your veggies into that. You'd be surprised you won't even use half of your cup after a while, because you just need that 'little dab' of dressing to get you satisfied with each bite.

Well if you want to know all the advantages and disadvantages about salt, its best that you do a little Googling Research. Your doctor would be able to tell you how salt is affecting your body, by talking to you and running some tests and give you recommendations. Though in my experience with so many doctors telling me this and that, I'm thinking about looking for a nutritionist for some advice since they know food best. Maybe you too, if you're thinking about changing around your diet.

Most of our foods already have sodium in it, or some form. Meat that you buy from the store has salt in it already. Remember that salt is important to your health so don't blank it out completely. You don't want to collapse because of low blood pressure.

I treat salt like I treat sugar. Foods I need to eat on the go or simply need to eat, I eat it, but don't ever add salt to the food I have, because its probably already packed.

When I'm at home or there are healthy choices I do the same, I go for other flavors that will give me a 'salty' satisfaction. Your a single taste bud can sense multiple tastes. Salty is the basics because its easy to read, but every taste bud can taste some sort of combination of salty, sweet, sour, bitter and umami (savory like when you smell meat your mouth starts watering or that MMM taste when your bite into meat). Just find a combo of foods that satisfy your tastes. And use alternative seasoning. Many a time, using flavorful veggies like peppers give you that zing you need with a bit of lemon.

Don't be too afraid of cereal. Most cereals from what I remember range from 200- 600 mg.I think somewhere. When I was on that special diet I had to go for my lowest one. But for you Kashi is organic and healthy so I wouldnt worry too much just lessen the salty foods and treats, and the salt you use in your cooking.

And of course you can treat yourself to a dollar menu french fry too. I don't go for the "Small" more. Also soda. :I Soda has lots of salt believe it or not. Besides water is more or less free in most food places, save a couple of bucks.