Potassium and low blood sugar

We’ve all heard admonitions from doctors, parents, and co-workers about the deleterious effects of salt and sodium on our blood pressure. In fact, excessive sodium is pretty much the standard dietary cause of high blood pressure – or so we’ve been led to believe.

 

New evidence is mounting that a potassium deficiency might actually be just as important a risk factor for high blood pressure, especially among African Americans. In a group of 3,300 patients – half of them African American – urine samples were taken and analyzed. Researchers from the Dallas Heart Study found that low urinary potassium levels correlated strongly with high blood pressure, even “stronger than the effect of sodium on blood pressure.” Even when all other factors – race, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, age, weight – were taken into account, potassium’s role in regulating blood pressure remained significant.

 

Also, they may have discovered a specific gene that regulates potassium’s effect on blood pressure. The gene, called WNK1, requires further independent studies to determine its exact function, but the evidence is there.

 

In the meantime, it’s probably a good idea to start eating more potassium and reducing your sodium intake, especially if you already have high blood pressure. Bananas, citrus, and most vegetables are all high in potassium and low in sodium. If you’ve been looking for a good reason to start going to one of the plethora of Los Angeles farmer’s markets, I can’t imagine a better one than this.

 

Or, I guess, you could just wait around for the big pharmaceutical companies to deliver some new wonder drug years down the line. Of course, it’ll cost a bundle and there may be unintended side effects, but at least you won’t have to make any drastic changes to your dietary habits!

 

Remember: there will always be some miracle cure on the horizon, but making natural, healthy lifestyle changes is always the best option.