High blood pressure impacts over 30% of adults worldwide and is a major cause of heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, and even dementia. When blood pressure is high, we are often told to cut back on salt.
However, emerging research from the University of Waterloo shows that boosting potassium compared to sodium in the diet might lower blood pressure more effectively than just cutting sodium. Adding potassium-rich foods like bananas or broccoli to your meals may be more effective than simply reducing salt. Potassium helps balance the effects of sodium and supports heart health, making it a valuable addition to your diet.
The study confirms that raising potassium intake can help manage blood pressure and introduces a mathematical model that reveals how the potassium-to-sodium ratio affects the body. It highlights sex differences, showing that men are more prone to high blood pressure than pre-menopausal women but respond better to an improved potassium-to-sodium ratio.
The researchers point out that such models provide an efficient, cost-effective, and ethical way to explore how various factors influence health.
Journal Reference:
- Melissa Stadt and Anita Layton. Modulation of blood pressure by dietary potassium and sodium: sex differences and modeling analysis. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology. DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00222.2024
