[quote=FlyerInHi]How about cutting salt intake and see the result?

My dad drastically cut his salt intake at age 70. He’s now 84 and has never taken any BP or cholesterol medication. I don’t see why he won’t live to 100 which is only 16 years away.

I think that we get way too much salt in out food. Cavemen got very little salt, if you believe the Paleo diet.[/quote]

Interesting analysis of many studies – suggests that sodium consumption of average American within healthy boundaries and that CDC recommendations may be unhealthfully low.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20140402/cdc-salt-guidelines-too-low-for-good-health-study-suggests

Once again – even though I am a science-y type, I am hesitant to believe the conventional wisdom. There are too many people out there who want to publish data that support popular beliefs (finally some accurate info is coming out about saturated fats, too).

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/03/17/290846811/dont-fear-the-fat-experts-question-saturated-fat-guidelines

The truth is likely to be much more complicated than “exercise + veggies + self discipline = long life.” I would be more likely to believe someone who said that “exercise + moderate consumption of preservatives (some of which are antioxidants) + a smidge of gin = long life.” It would be more believable to me because it wouldn’t be designed to feed in to the self righteousness that we see (ahem) in some places.