A new study from the University of Waterloo in Canada suggests that eating more potassium-rich foods may be better for lowering blood pressure than just cutting back on salt.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects more than 30% of adults worldwide.
It increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, and even dementia.
Traditionally, people with high blood pressure are told to eat less salt. But Professor Anita Layton, who teaches applied mathematics, computer science, pharmacy, and biology, says that adding more potassium to your meals might actually have a bigger benefit. Foods like bananas and broccoli are good sources of potassium.
Potassium and sodium are both important minerals, called electrolytes. They help the body send signals, control muscle movement, and manage water levels. But the balance between them matters. Too much sodium and too little potassium can harm your health.
Melissa Stadt, a PhD student at the University of Waterloo and the lead author of the study, explains that our ancestors used to eat diets full of fruits and vegetables, which are high in potassium and low in sodium. Our bodies may have developed to work best with this kind of diet.
In contrast, modern Western diets usually contain too much sodium and not enough potassium. This may be one reason why high blood pressure is more common in modern, industrialized societies compared to isolated, traditional communities.
While earlier studies showed that eating more potassium can help lower blood pressure, this new research used a mathematical model to better understand how the balance of potassium and sodium affects the body.
The model also showed that men and women may react differently. Men are more likely to get high blood pressure, but they may also benefit more from improving the potassium-to-sodium ratio.
The researchers believe that these computer models are useful tools. They allow scientists to study how different things affect the body without needing large, expensive, or risky experiments. This approach can save time and money and help guide future research and health advice.
In summary, this study suggests that improving the balance between potassium and sodium in your diet—by eating more potassium-rich foods and less salt—could be a powerful way to manage blood pressure, especially for men. It’s a reminder that what we eat every day can have a big impact on our health.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and eating eggs in a healthy diet may reduce risks of diabetes, high blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
The study is published in American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology.
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