1.
Does excessive eating of salt increase blood
pressure?

Ans: Yes and
No
Yes in certain individuals who are salt sensitive,
while this does not happen in those who are salt
insensitive.

2. What are the foods to be
avoided by BP patients

Ans: (a) Salted
snacks e.g. Potato wafers
(b) Pickles and
papads
(c) Ketchups
(d) Salted meat / salted sea
food
(e) Excess of fat 

3. Will eating fruits cause
cold?

Ans: Cold is
caused by a virus. Most fruits rich in vitamin C (like
oranges), in fact can protect against frequent attacks
of cold. Some people may be allergic to certain foods
which may include fruits. They should find out by trial
and error and try and avoid only those fruits. 

4. Is it good to drink water
while eating? Will it reduce digestion?

Ans: There is no
evidence to suggest this. Some feel that it may dilute
the digestive enzymes, but this does not occur, because
the intestines produce several times more enzymes than
what is actually required for digestion. Water intake
may however fill the stomach and thereby give a feeling
of fullness. This is common among children.

5. Are artificial sweeteners
harmful?

Ans: Scientific
data does not indicate that either saccharine or
aspartame are harmful to humans 

6. Which is the best source of
calcium? Will calcium tablets prevent
fracture?

Ans: Best source
of calcium is milk. To a certain extent calcium tablets
@ 500 mg/day would help. Women should take calcium well
before onset of menopause, as more than 50% of the
calcium in the bones is lost during the first 5 years of
menopause itself. 

7. Which of the cooking oils
are good for health?

Ans: All oils
are good in one way or the other. Groundnut oil, mustard
oil are very good. It is always suggested to use a
combination of oils either blended or by rotation. e.g.
Groundnut oil, soya bean oil, sunflower oil, rice bran
oil so that you get the benefit of all. Sunflower / any
single oil alone is not preferred. 

8. Which is the best way to
lose weight?

Ans: A
combination of physical activity of atleast a 30 minute
walk per day with a moderation in calorie intake would
do wonders. Drastic weight loss programs can be rarely
sustained. Just avoiding refined sugars, disserts, deep
fried foods, dairy and bakery products, aerated bottled
drinks itself can cut down a large amount of calories.
Consuming atleast 400 gms of fruits and vegetables can
also avoid the hunger.

9. Will eating tomatoes and
palak
cause stones in the
kidney?

Ans:
No! These
are unfounded fears. Eating tomatoes and palak may be
little harmful to those who are prone to the problem of
formation of stones in the
kidneys.