Q: I have high blood pressure. Will eating foods that are high in potassium help lower my blood pressure? Can I eat too much potassium? Do I need to watch my sodium too?
A: For the average person, a potassium-rich diet appears to lower blood pressure moderately. However, check with your doctor if you have kidney disease, diabetes or if you take medications that cause you to retain potassium. Some of these medications include midamor, dyrenium, aldactone, ACE inhibitors or ARBs. Potassium levels can get too high in individuals with these conditions and on these medications. A high potassium level can lead to heart-rhythm problems.
The recommended daily intake for potassium is 3,500 milligrams. See sidebar for the potassium content of some common foods.
In addition to the foods listed in the sidebar, some salt substitutes contain potassium. Many of these will contain a warning, cautioning you to check with your doctor if any of the above conditions apply to you. One fourth teaspoon of a potassium chloride containing salt substitute will contain about 550 mg of potassium. This can really add up quickly if you use quite a bit of it.
Most likely you do need to control your sodium intake. Your physician can let you know for sure. The general advice is that sodium be limited to no more than 200 mg per day. First, get the salt shaker off the table. Reduce or eliminate the sodium in cooking. And watch out for highly processed foods (canned foods, frozen dinners, canned or shelf stable dinners, luncheon meats, hot dogs). For more obvious sources such as pickles, you might need to just cut them out or have a slice on a sandwich.
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Sue Kosharek of Rochester is a registered dietitian in private practice. Questions for Nutrition Briefs should be sent to the Food section, Post-Bulletin, 18 First Ave. S.E., Rochester, MN 55904. Questions can be left on the Nutrition Hotline on City Line, 252-1111, category 5100, and questions will be forwarded to columnists. You also may e-mail questions to lifestyle@postbulletin.com.
