A low salt diet is also good for the environment!

I'm guessing many of us don't realize the long-term negative impact which salt use on our sidewalks and roads has on the environment. I learned a little bit about this while serving on the Bassett Creek Watershed Commission. An article in the StarTribune, Road salt use gets weighed against saving money, environment, does a nice job of explaining how important it is for the health of our waters that we dramatically reduce our salt use. One of the most troublesome aspects of salt/chloride, is that it doesn't break down and move out of the system.  It stays in the watershed indefinitely, and is harmful to fish and other aquatic life.

So, if you feel the need to use salt to deice your sidewalk, use it sparingly.  You might also head to the hardware store and invest in a salt shaker, to use salt more strategically.