system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why are salt and pepper such ubiquitous ingredients in cooking?

Why do we put salt and pepper in EVERYTHING that we cook? Why not anything else?

I imagine it is something to do with availability? Or is it taste related?

Thanks

**Edit**: thanks for all the answers, very informative!
gpt
The human sense of taste has evolved to enjoy salt, because salt is important for your body to keep functioning. But that's not the only cool thing it does, it also seems to suppress our perception of bitter tastes, which lets other tastes like sweet or sour stand out more. Salt not only tastes pretty good on its own, it also makes other things taste better.

Black pepper adds some flavor and a little bit of spiciness, but usually doesn't overpower dishes unless you add too much. 

Many other spices tend to be strong and distinct in flavor, and as such can "take over" a dish, instead of just enhancing it.