Salt for your Health?

Doctors have told me for years about the adverse effects salt can have on your body. Because salt consists mostly of sodium, taking it in in large quantities is bad for your body and overall health. It is said that humans consume on average 20 times more levels of sodium than they are supposed to. However, salt acts as an essential part of our lives, as a preservative and cooking material to something that keeps our roads clear through the winter. I guess it's just something to admire and avoid at the same time.