In a message dated 2/24/00 4:00:28 PM, Todd Moody <[log in to unmask]> writes: << If salt plays only a trivial role in natural human nutrition, then it is a mystery to me that part of the surface of our tongues is dedicated to salt sensors, making it possible for us to identify the salt-bearing foods. >> I am curious if anyone really knows how much salt our ancestors ate, and where they got it from. Many traditional nutritionists think no salt is necessary at all, but I thought it was a necessary component of our biochemical makeup. It would seem rational that peoples living near the sea would get plenty of salt from fish and seaweeds, but what about inland dwellers? I had never thought before about part of the tongue dedicated to sensing salt; of course there must be a biological reason for this. Sweet sensors would naturally lead us to consume fruits high in vitamin C, which humans cannot produce while most other animals can. And detecting bitter and sour tastes would probably provide us some protection from consuming poisonous or spoiled foods. So, what about salt? How much do we really need? Maddy Stratton