Q: I am 45 years old and take a lot of fruits in the morning in breakfast. I enjoy eating them by sprinkling rock salt (kala namak) on them. I read somewhere that salt neutralises the good contents of the fruits and it is good to eat them without salt. I would like to know if this is true.

A:Salt does not neutralise the good content of fruits per se. Salt has been linked to causing high blood pressure. Cutting down on salt is only part of eating healthily. Remember, the taste for salt is an acquired taste - today a little, tomorrow a little more. But too much salt may contribute to heart disease, stroke or kidney disease. Most people eat more salt than our bodies need, so it’s a good idea to monitor the amount of salt you use. Learning to use less can take time and flexibility, but herbs and spices can enhance the flavour of food without the potential health effects. Fresh fruits are so full of flavour that you can eat them just as they are, so it would be advisable to slowly train yourself to eat the fruit without salt.