Let’s talk about the #1 nutrient that so many of us are missing when it comes to blood pressure. It’s not about salt – it’s all about POTASSIUM!
The Big Mistake
There’s a mistake that 78 million Americans are making … are you one of them? A 14-year study out in the American Journal of Medicine showed that 78 million people following a “low-salt” diet actually had a higher risk for heart disease! They were taking way too much salt out of their diet. Salt is not the enemy, it’s actually the lack of potassium.
By restricting your salt intake, you can lower your blood pressure, on average, by one point (not that big of a drop). Too much salt will be a problem over time, but the key nutrient that a lot of people need to get in is potassium.
Sodium/Potassium Ratio
Years ago, they studied our ancestors and it was said that they were getting 11,000 milligrams of potassium every day and only 700 milligrams of sodium. Present-day, we get 2,500 milligrams of potassium per day (1/4 of what our ancestors used to get!) and 3,600 milligrams of sodium on a daily basis (4x-5x as our ancestors)! The ratio is way off – so there are 2 ways to fix it:
- Decrease (-) sodium/salt intake (but not too much!)
- Increase (+) potassium intake
Salt Type Matters
The right kind of salt matters. Table salt is very toxic, so REAL salt (that your body will use to get the electrolytes it needs to run) is what you need. You’re looking for Himalayan salt or Celtic sea salt (high quality).
How To Get More Potassium
The best way to crank up the potassium is through green food! A common misconception is that bananas are best for potassium, but they are also full of sugar and most of them are genetically modified. So, really the banana business sold us this lie several years ago that we need to eat a ton of bananas to get the potassium we need a be healthy. In actuality, there’s 2x as much potassium in a good old bowl of veggies (such as spinach & broccoli) than a banana.
Cut the sugar and crank up good potassium by eating your leafy greens and veggies.
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Avocado
- Lima Beans
- Peas
- Green juice
Let go of some of the lies you’ve been told around salt consumption and potassium, and simply eat lots of green foods with REAL salt. Get your body the nutrients it needs and potentially watch your blood pressure level out!
