In order to maintain healthy blood pressure, it is important to balance your intake of sodium and potassium. That is why people with high BP are always advised to eat less salt. But what if you focused on increasing your potassium intake?
Studies have shown that an increase in potassium has a positive effect on our health.
Potassium is an essential mineral that is used by the body in many different ways. But most importantly for high blood pressure, it drives out excess sodium. And sodium/salt has repeatedly been found to raise blood pressure.
In fact, studies have shown it’s more important to consume higher amounts of potassium than to reduce your salt consumption.
Lynn L. Moore, associate professor of Medicine at BUMC, performed a ten year study on 2,185 girls between 9 and 10 years old.
They compared the girls’ eating habits to their blood pressure over the years. Girls with the highest intake of potassium recorded the lowest blood-pressure readings at the end of their adolescent years.
Another study shows the influence of an increased potassium intake for a whole population.
Dr. Geleijnse from the Wageningen University in the Netherlands concluded that if everyone increased their potassium intake to 4.7 g/day we would have up to 8% fewer people with high blood pressure.
So why not put this information into practice?
You can start today with increasing your potassium intake. The current recommendation for potassium is 4.7g/day for those over the age of 14.
Potassium can also be found in many healthy foods, but you can also take it as a supplement. Surprisingly, a recent study at St. Georges Hospital in London showed there is no real difference between the two concerning the effect on your health.
Here are a few types of foods high in potassium:
– Potatoes
– Sun-Dried Tomatoes
– Kidney Beans
– Dried Fruits: Apricots, Peaches, and Figs
– Bananas
– Avocado
– Fish
– Acorn Squash
– Milk
– Dark Leafy Greens
In general, a diet based on lots of fresh fruit and vegetables is always going to be higher in potassium and lower in sodium.
It has been proven more than once that Salt has nothing to do with Blood Pressure. Doctors are telling they’re patients to limit they’re salt intake, but this is detrimental. Think about these facts. What’s the first thing a good farmer puts out for his cattle? A BIG SALT BLOCK and they are not limited to ONE lick a day. Secondly, If you have a medical and are taken to the hospital, what’s the first thing they do? Hook you Saline (which is Salt water). Because salt helps to re-hydrate the body.
Go to http://www.youtube.com/drwallach and see the facts
I thank you much all diet advising
Chronic exposure to lead from environmental sources, including drinking water, is associated with high blood pressure and increased cardiovascular mortality. Areas with a soft water supply have higher lead concentrations in drinking water due to the acidity of the water. Soft water is also low in calcium and magnesium two minerals that protect against high blood pressure.