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.

Do you always go for the healthy options at parties and buffets, like fondues and raw vegetable (crudite) dips?

Raw vegetables and salads with dip

Think again, they may not be so healthy after all.

Shared dips and fondue type dishes are said to be swarming with other people’s germs. A research study shows that when the same crudite or dipper is used more than once, tens of thousands of bacteria are transferred from the mouth to the dip for each double-dip.

We can overdo the hygiene sometimes, and a certain exposure to external germs are said to be good for the immune system.

However, if your immune system is compromised in any way, or there’s a particularly nasty ‘flu bug around, avoid dips like the plague.

Does alcohol destroy brain cells? The answer would seem to be No.

It may be bad for you in many other ways, but it won’t get to those little grey cells and reduce you to idiocy, it’s now thought.

But be warned, excessive consumption of the comforting tincture can bring on Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which definitely reduces memory.

As for brain cells, you would need to pass out, and be close to death, before alcohol destroyed a single brain cell.

So take heart, but always be moderate.

Swings and roundabouts.

Can you protect yourself against too much alcohol consumption? Herbalists believe you can.

The milk thistle plant whose seeds are beneficial

The seeds of the milk thistle plant contain a powerful antioxidant called silymarin, which is said to protect not just the liver, but also the gall bladder and spleen against the demon drink.

Milk thistle is a member of the daisy family of plants and is rich in flavonolignans, a group of compounds which help to repair liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxins.

Silymarin also has anti-inflammatory properties that protect new liver cells from destruction. Add the presence of phytochemicals which fight against toxic overload and, all in all, the humble milk thistle is a great little helper if you have a tendency to overdo it from time to time.

You can take milk thistle as a capsule, in tablet, tincture or liquid extract form, before or after drinking.