Many people with high blood pressure or heart failure find it hard to cope with a low-salt diet.

One easy solution is to use one of the many salt substitutes that are widely advertised. However, because these substitutes contain potassium chloride in place of the sodium chloride in table salt, they are not an option for people with kidney disease, who risk developing serious problems if their bodies can't eliminate excessive amounts of potassium. If you are thinking of using a salt substitute, check first with your doctor to see if it's safe for you.

Some of my patients who could safely use these products complained about their taste. What other options are there?

One alternate approach is to add flavorful herbs and spices to your meals rather than trying to mimic the taste of salt with salt substitutes. Experiment with choices like lemon juice, cumin, nutmeg, fresh garlic or garlic powder, tarragon, oregano, and other herbs to add flavor without adding salt. My wife and I find that fresh ground pepper can often substitute for salt.

Like our taste for sugar, the craving for salt is largely a learned preference that our taste buds acquired over time. After a period of eating low-salt foods your taste buds will adjust to the lower salt content of your diet. In fact, foods containing only a little salt may even develop an unpleasant taste because you will find them too salty.