Many people are chained to a low salt diet for chronic or acute medical reasons. High blood pressure and kidney disease probably top the list.

Some people go onto low salt regimes to improve mental function which is responsive to salt intake. It’s known that the normal body needs only half a gram of salt a day, way below the official guidelines of 6 - 7 grams.

If you ask them which foods they miss most, they will likely say “cheese”. Its particular flavor and texture can be quite addictive.

However, cheese is very high in salt.

There are exceptions. Some soft versions, like cream cheeses — usually not proprietary brands — can be salt-free. The problem is they don’t really taste or feel like cheese at all.

One solution is Swiss Emmental which is low in salt, but tastes very much like cheese. The Tesco brand contains only 0.2 grams per 30-gram typical serving. Others may vary, so check the labeling.

Bear in mind also that a value for sodium needs to be multiplied by 2.5 to get the full salt content.

Cheese needn’t be a no-go area for low salt dieters.

With the annual London Marathon approaching this weekend, thousands of amateur runners will have discovered the meaning of Runners’ High.

As the body pushes itself through the “first wind” after around 20 minutes of effort, a feeling of euphoria sets in as body chemicals called endophins kick in. These are responsible for blocking pain, but also have a distinctly narcotic effect, which is why some people become totally addicted to workouts and training.

Endorphins are released during sustained effort and affect sites in the brain called receptors where opiates elevate the runner’s mood. Yes, opiates. It really is that powerful.

Non-runners are also affected in a medical sense. People suffering chronic pain can benefit from endorphins too.

Professor Thomas Tolle, who co-authored a study on the subject, says, “Endorphins are released in areas of the brain that are centres of pain suppression. Now we hope [our study] will impress our pain patients and motivate them to take up sports training within their available limits”.

So, run for pain-free health seems to be the message.

Ringworm is an unsightly and distressing fungus infection, wrongly called a “worm”.

The unsightly marks of ringworm

It is a skin infection by a parasitic fungus that develops angry red marks on the body. It often forms a ring-like pattern as the infection spreads, hence its name.

Here’s a very simple Sideways cure for the parasite.

1. Crush two tablespoons of mustard seeds in a bowl.

2. Add sufficient drops of warm water to make a paste.

3. Apply to the affected area in a thin layer, leaving for 20 minutes.

4. Remove the paste using a cloth soaked in a little warm water.

5. Repeat as necessary.