Look, I get it.  Salt is our worst enemy.  Not only does it makes us bloat, but it can also lead to high blood pressure if too much is consumed.  If you go to the grocery store, half of the store is plastered with “low-sodium” and “contains no sodium” signs.  Salt equals bad.

Or does it?

Obviously, too much salt is not a good thing (but how many times have we all been told that too much of anything is not a good thing??)  But our bodies need salt.  Yes, that’s right, salt is an essential nutrient.  According to the Salt Institute, “It preserves acid-base balance in the body, aids potassium absorption, supplies the essence of digestive stomach acid, and enhances the ability of the blood to carry carbon dioxide from respiring tissues to the lungs”

So there.

Salt also plays a big part in flavor–it’s necessary for every flavor we taste–salty (duh), savory, bitterness, even sweet!

Salt also was used as a form of money during the Middle Ages.

The Bible makes reference to it.

Have I convinced you yet that salt does not have to be bad???

My point here is that if you have to choose one time to salt food, please, PLEASE let it be the water you boil your pasta in.  The Italians say your pasta water should, in fact, taste like sea water.  I like to think they mean the  Dead Sea. 😀

Once your water has come to a boil (and remember, fill the water 3/4 of the way up.  Pasta, especially long noodles, needs lots of water to cook in!) dump a small palmful of Kosher salt (none of that icky table salt!) into the pot.  I guarantee your pasta will taste absolutely delicious!