> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# High sodium not linked to hypertension if potassium intake is high
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/sodium_potassium_high_blood_pressure_0116141030/
- Published: 2014-01-16T23:29:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:51:07.000Z
- Description: Among 1,285 adults aged 25 to 64, those with a high sodium-to-potassium ratio had systolic and diastolic blood pressure 8 and 7 mmHg higher than those with a low ratio. The authors conclude that high sodium intake is not linked to higher blood pressure when potassium intake is high.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Heart & Blood, Avoiding Illness, #vivvo-import

Thursday Jan 16, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Your doctors have told you often to reduce intake of sodium in order to prevent hypertension. But a new study suggests that eating high salt foods does not have to cause hypertension as long as you have high intake of potassium. 

It's important to have a balance between potassium and sodium, both are important for human physiology. The ratio of potassium to sodium is associated with the risk of hypertension. A diet with high sodium and low potassium is not healthful.

The study led by Sérgio Lamêgo Rodrigues, MD, PhD and colleagues shows that men and women with a high ratio of sodium to potassium had systolic and diastolc blood pressure increased by 8 mmHg and 7 mmHg respectively, compared with those with a low ratio of sodium to potassium.

Among the 1285 participants aged 25 to 64 years who did not take any medication that affected blood pressure or potassium excretion, 86% ate 6 grams or more of salt per day while 87.7% ate less than 4.7 grams of potassium per day, which is recommended.

Those who followed a healthy diet or had low urinary excretion of potassium had their systolic and diastolic blood pressure reduced by 6 mmHg and 4 mmHg respectively, compared with those with high excretion.

The study concluded "when people have an increased intake of potassium, high intake of sodium is not associated with higher blood pressure."

High potassium foods include Apricots, avocados, bananas, dates, figs, kiwi, mangos, melons, artichokes, beans, green vegetables, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash, yams, chocolate, cocoa, lentils and nuts.

Taking potassium supplements such as potassium citrate can also increase dietary intake of this important mineral. Potassium citrate can also prevent kidney stone development or dissolve kidney stones. (David Liu, PHD)