How can we avoid salt in our diet?

Salt IS everywhere. 1 tbsp. of soy sauce contains 900mg of sodium, diet sodas-35-45mg./serving, canned foods, processed foods, the list is endless. I've been reading labels for many years, in an effort to establish calorie, salt, fat, and over-all nutritional content, even when labels were scarce. While there are many salt-free options available on the spice isle in your local grocery store, I've found fresh lemon juice and fresh herbs do a more credible job. Some have suggested fresh garlic, if you can handle it's very pungent aroma (for days). Best advice, keep it fresh, make it yourself.

Regarding your article on sodium, May 14, 2009.

After taking a course in nutrition and exercise at The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA., I found you do not need to get rid of all your canned vegatables.

When using canned foods, pour them into a colendar, rinse with water, getting rid of most of the sodium. Use them in soups, & stews cooking them in chicken or beef broth, low sodium, of course.

I have only recently become aware of the high sodium content of the frozen meals I eat almost daily for lunch. The average entree in my freezer contains about half of the RDA for sodium. This might explain my feeling of dehydration soon after I eat my lunch. Sodium content is something I will definitely pay more attention to. I suppose I should eat more carrots and fewer frozen things.

Re; rinsing canned foods in a collander. What about the salt that has already been absorbed by the canned vegetable? That will not rinse off. It has already disolved and been absorbed.

Dr. Gupta's advice is excellence, but a side note in this case: Your wife is likely adding salt to pasta water to make it cook faster, not for flavoring. Having salt in the water will prevent the water from boiling until it's at a higher temperature than 100F. Adding the pasta when the water is at a higher temp will result in faster cooking.

My husband just past away on Mon 5/25/09 at the age of 37. He had a massive stroke due to untreated high blood pressure. He had just recently been complaining of dizziness and we discussed the possibility of high blood pressure but life got in the way of attending to this leathal problem. I would like to ask if you could do a piece about the affects of high blood pressure as maybe it could help someone avoid the tradgedy my family is facing today.

We do not use canned foods, but prepare everything from raw products. For example, instead of using canned chick peas, I soak them overnight, and then cook them in a slow cooker without salt. Then add salt to the amount that you can barely taste it. This is because raw foods already have salts such as potassium, and magnesium and sodium in them. Eating healthy definitely needs minute adjustments, but is really is easily accomplishable.

I have made meal preparation fast and easy with fresh ingredients. It;s so quick to saute some fresh spinach in olive oil with fresh garlic, steam broccoli in a microwave or slice up fresh tomatoes and avocadoes. Sub oil and vinegar for prepared salad dressing. Add a micro baked potato and some quickly stovetop cooked boneless breast, chopped sirloin or salmon fillet, and dinner is on the table in 15 minutes. It's as effortless as a prepared entree and almost as quick....with a fraction of the added sodium. Additional benefit is that it's colorful and delicious.

Dear Mr Gupta
My name is Denise Harper I am 53 year old My question to you is
is good to take baby aspirin or just plain aspirin. I am trying to take good care of myself. thank you for demonstration about the type of
medication that suppose to used in hospital setting concerning
micheal jackson.

Thank You
Denise Harper