Does Potassium Affect Moods?

Taking in too little potassium relative to sodium may affect your mood. A high sodium to potassium ratio also increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a January 2009 "Archives of Internal Medicine" study. Reducing your salt intake while boosting your potassium consumption may be the ticket to improving your mood and your health. Consult your doctor before altering your diet or trying supplements, especially if you have a health condition or take medicine.

Significance

There is a relationship between your sodium to potassium level and mood changes, according to the 2008 Florida State University publication "Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding the Menstrual Cycle, Oral Contraceptives and Sport Performance" by Teresa Johnson. If you are a woman, your sodium to potassium level fluctuates during your menstrual cycle. Sodium relative to potassium becomes elevated during your premenstrual phase when negative mood states and weight gain typically occur, Johnson says.

The Sodium Pump

If you suffer depression or bipolar disorder, your sodium to potassium balance may be worse than the average person's, according to "Dealing With Depression Naturally" by Syd Baumel. Neurons that are stuffed with too much sodium are less able to import serotonin, your major mood stabilizing neurotransmitter, as well as other chemicals, Baumel notes. Part of the problem may be your sodium pumps, which exist in cell membranes. The pumps work to regulate cells so they have enough potassium and not too much sodium. Poorly functioning sodium pumps can contribute to high blood pressure as well as affective disorders, according to Baumel. Steroid hormones also may play a role in your mood cycle by affecting your sodium pump, notes a 2000 study published in the "Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology."

Potassium Deficiency

High blood pressure, liver disease and diabetes can all contribute to potassium deficiency. Using diuretics is another potential cause. Diet is another factor when it comes to your sodium to potassium ratio. Today's diet has a sodium to potassium ratio of two to one in favor of sodium, but prehistoric diets had a ratio of between 10 and 50 to one, notes Baumel.

Gaining a Balance

Your sodium to potassium ratio affects your heart health as well, and the effect of this ratio is more significant than either sodium or potassium level alone, according to Nancy R. Cook, lead author for the "Archives of Internal Medicine Study." The safest way to increase your dietary potassium is to consume potassium-rich fruits and veggies that have not been processed, according to "Forbes" magazine. Good choices include bananas, potatoes, raisins, oranges and spinach. Meanwhile, decrease your consumption of sodium-rich processed foods and restaurant meals. Discuss potassium supplements with your doctor before trying them. If you have diabetes or kidney disease, supplements may be dangerous for you to use, according to the Institute of Medicine.