More Potassium vs Less Sodium

 

In a recent review of studies of the relationship of sodium and potassium to cardiovascular disease, researchers concluded that increasing potassium consumption had a greater impact on health outcomes than reducing sodium intake did. It turns out that it is the ration of potassium to sodium that is the key factor, more important than the level of sodium consumed alone.

Cutting the sodium in your diet is difficult because it is so ubiquitous in all processed foods, baked products and restaurant foods. Even people who never pick up a salt shaker can have trouble reaching the generally accepted guideline of 2,300mg per day. In the US, most people consume about 3,400mg. This study suggests that increasing your potassium consumption can potentially offset the impact of higher sodium.

Good food sources of potassium include bananas, oranges, spinach, broccoli, potatoes and mushrooms.