Both contain essential nutrients. Salt contains sodium, and you would die very fast without it. Your body is made up of a lot of salt. Did you ever taste your blood after you cut your finger and it tasted salty? You know that all life on Earth came from the ocean. We need salt because sodium and chloride are essential elements that we must have to survive. The same is true of sugar is the sense that it is a simple carbohydrate, and carbs are essential nutrients. We need them for a zillion things, like energy. Carbs are like the fuel of the body. Unfortunately, white processed sugar is really bad for you because, as you pointed out, it has no vitamins. That is one reason why it is MUCH better for you to get your carbs in a complex form, like in fruits, whole grains, brown rice, etc. These foods have other nutrients and are not just sugar. Salt and sugar cause us harm if we ingest too much of them, which is true of just about anything, including water. So tell me, on another subject, is my crystal ball out of whack and I'm not seeing things in NY quite clearly and that's why I need a new one??? Wazzup? Blessings, Lady Morgana )0(