Adding salt to coffee affects health Dear Heloise: Adding salt to coffee is a well-known way that some people have traditionally reduced its bitterness, but this is a bad idea for several reasons. It may aggravate or cause high blood pressure. It can also cause fluid retention, bloating, weight gain, poor sleep quality, excessive thirst, and so on. This is the take of the Cleveland Clinic and every medical professional I know. Coffees vary in bitterness. I suggest trying other types and not adding any salt. It is possible that a salt substitute will work without the health impacts, but this should be investigated and verified before using it. — Mark J., via email Mark, thanks for writing in! I was told by a coffee expert that refrigerating coffee can make your morning brew taste bitter. I suggest keeping a lid on your coffee and storing it in a cool, dark and dry place such as a pantry. — Heloise SEND A GREAT HINT TO: Heloise@Heloise.com ADDING SALT TO COFFEE CONT'D Dear Heloise: My recommendation to Karel is to stop drinking coffee that she doesn't like. I just saw a class offered at a retirement center on how to manage your salt intake. Most health articles I read caution people about the overuse of salt and its effect on blood pressure, the heart, the kidneys, etc. A 1/2 teaspoon of salt is more than the recommended daily amount, and more than 1 cup of a coffee with this much salt could be hazardous to her health. — William D., in San Antonio HOME ADDRESS Dear Heloise: I love your column and read it every day in the Orange County Register. The following is a hint my friend passed on: I have a plug-in GPS, but this works just as well if you use your cellphone GPS. For my home address, I use the local police station address. So, if anyone stole my car or phone, they would be in for a big surprise if they thought they were going to find out where I live. — Deanne D., in Cypress, California THE RIGHT TO VOTE Dear Heloise: Lynnette K., in Blacksburg, Virginia, said she no longer voted for various reasons. Thank you for your answer to her. Voting is a right and privilege, and it should be taken seriously. It has gotten even more confusing with all the lying that seems to be "the thing" these days. I wonder if Lynnette is someone who can quote sports statistics or knows sports team members but doesn't know who her senator or representative is. I have been voting for 66 years and only missed one primary and zero general elections. — Linda H., in Lincoln, Nebraska Linda, it's actually fun to vote. We recently had an election for our mayor and city council here where I live. I felt that it was my duty to cast a ballot, and I felt good about doing it all day. To all the veterans who have defended our democracy, please know your service to this country does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. — Heloise THE RIGHT TO VOTE CONT'D Dear Heloise: Thank you for the great response to Lynnette K. It is so sad to hear people give up on voting. The other response we dislike hearing is "my vote doesn't matter." I'm a veteran, and when people thank me for my service, I reply "If you want to thank veterans, vote! We served to protect the constitution and our rights." People win elections due to a low voter turnout. — Carin W., via email