Can too much sodium and not enough potassium really lead to high blood pressure?
A. Absolutely. In fact, getting too much sodium chloride (table salt) in the diet, coupled with diminished dietary potassium, is a common cause of high blood pressure. Numerous studies have shown that sodium restriction alone does not improve blood pressure control in most people – it must be accompanied by a high potassium intake. In our society only 5% of sodium intake comes from the natural ingredients in food. Prepared foods contribute 45% of ou sodium intake, 45% is added in cooking, and another 5% is added as a condiment. All the body requires in most instances is the salt that is supplied in the food. Most Americans have a potassium-to-sodium (K:Na) ratio of less than 1:2. This 1:2 ratio means most people ingest twice as much sodium as potassium. Researchers recommend a dietary potassium-to-sodium ratio of greater than 5:1 to maintain minimum health. This is 10 times higher than the average intake. However, even this may not be optimal. A natural diet rich in fruits and vegetabl
