Scientists have called for a review of dietary recommendations for people with hypertension

Salt reduction has long been considered one of the main recommendations for the prevention of high blood pressure. However, scientists believe that this approach does not take into account another important factor — insufficient potassium intake. According to experts, in order to protect the cardiovascular system, it is necessary to simultaneously reduce the amount of sodium in the diet and increase the proportion of foods rich in potassium. About why these two minerals are important to consider together and which products will help maintain their balance, see the Izvestia article.

Salt restrictions are not enough

Scientists have suggested reviewing dietary recommendations for the prevention and control of hypertension. In an article published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), experts analyzed scientific data on the effects of sodium and potassium on blood pressure. They concluded that public recommendations should pay as much attention to increasing potassium intake as reducing salt.

Hypertension affects more than 1.28 billion adults worldwide and remains one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes. At the same time, many people consume too much sodium and at the same time receive insufficient amounts of potassium with food. The authors of the review believe that this combination may contribute to increased blood pressure.

According to her, the accumulated scientific evidence shows that an increase in potassium intake combined with a reduction in sodium helps to control hypertension more effectively.

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How sodium and potassium affect blood pressure

Both minerals — potassium and sodium — are necessary for the body: They are involved in maintaining water balance, transmitting nerve impulses and muscle function. However, they affect blood pressure in different ways.

Excessive sodium intake contributes to fluid retention in the body. Due to the increase in its volume, the pressure inside the blood vessels increases. Potassium, on the contrary, helps the kidneys to remove excess sodium from the urine, and also participates in maintaining the normal functioning of the walls of blood vessels. That is why the authors of the review suggest considering these substances not separately, but as interrelated elements of nutrition. In their opinion, sodium restriction remains necessary, but it should not replace recommendations for adequate potassium intake.

However, researchers do not claim that increasing the amount of potassium automatically normalizes blood pressure or allows you to stop treating hypertension. Their work is devoted to reviewing public recommendations and analyzing the scientific evidence that has already been accumulated, rather than testing a particular diet on patients.

Where is potassium contained

You can get potassium from ordinary foods. Among its sources, scientists name fruits, vegetables, legumes and dairy products. In particular, the diet can include bananas, potatoes, beans, leafy greens and yogurt.

Another possible way to simultaneously reduce sodium intake and increase potassium intake is to partially replace regular table salt with products based on potassium salts. Such substitutes allow you to change the mineral composition of food without completely abandoning the salty taste. However, this approach has limitations. When adding large amounts of potassium salts, products may have a metallic taste, so manufacturers have to find a balance between composition and taste.

In addition, increasing potassium intake is not suitable for everyone. People with kidney disease and those who take certain medications may find it more difficult to regulate its levels in the body. Therefore, potassium supplements and salt substitutes should be used in such patients only after consulting a doctor.

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Why do they want to change the recommendations?

Despite years of salt reduction campaigns, the average sodium intake in many countries still exceeds recommended values. At the same time, the intake of potassium from food remains significantly below the optimal level in both developed and developing countries. The authors of the review believe that this discrepancy indicates the need to change the emphasis in the prevention of hypertension.

The researchers emphasize that we are not talking about abandoning salt restrictions. They suggest supplementing existing recommendations with measures that will help people get enough potassium. According to experts, this requires not only information campaigns, but also changes in food production, the availability of healthier alternatives, and government nutrition policy.

Thus, scientists propose to shift the focus from a simple reduction of one component of the diet to a more comprehensive approach. To maintain normal blood pressure, it is important not only to reduce the amount of sodium, but also to ensure that the body receives enough potassium.