Does A Low Salt Diet Increase Potassium?

High blood pressure is a reality for one in three Americans, says the National Institutes of Health, and should be a concern for everyone else. The average high-salt diet disrupts the delicate sodium-potassium ratio needed to sustain bodily fluid balance and normal blood pressure. Doctors and health officials recommend restricting your salt intake -- the main source for dietary sodium -- and increasing your potassium intake to restore and maintain equilibrium. To do this, you'll need to monitor your consumption of both sodium and potassium minerals.

Decreasing Sodium

Because the average American takes in about 50 percent more sodium than the upper limit of the safe range, most people need to reduce the sodium in their diets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 2,300 mg of sodium or less per day, or 1,500 mg of sodium if you have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, or another cardiovascular health risk. Because commercially prepared foods contain most of the salt consumed nationwide, eating less of processed canned, frozen or packaged foods will help you achieve a low-salt diet. The remaining healthy food choices -- minimally processed or fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, whole grains and low-fat dairy products -- are low in salt and may contribute beneficial potassium to your diet. Decrease the amount of sodium in your food preparations by using little or no salt in cooking or at the table.

Increasing Potassium

The average diet also contains about 50 percent less potassium than the recommended daily intake of 4,700 mg, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Unless you have nutritional issues from diabetes or kidney disease, you are probably among the more than 95 percent of Americans who need to increase their potassium levels in order to reduce the risk for high blood pressure.

Natural Balance

Your body can't perform its metabolic tasks without the homeostasis provided by fluid balance. You can encourage this state by using food label information to help you identify and prefer low-salt forms of potassium-rich foods. For instance, pair a low-sodium breakfast cereal with low-fat milk for its strong potassium and minimal sodium. Eat potassium-rich beans, potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, fish and meats to which little salt is added. Choose dates, raisins, bananas and papayas for potassium. The USDA encourages food over supplemental sources of potassium.

Significance

Avoiding or treating hypertension with a low-salt diet can increase the quality or longevity of your life. High blood pressure damages your arteries over time and changes heart muscle tone. This raises your likelihood of developing heart disease and suffering from life-threatening heart attacks, aneurysms and strokes.