Potassium to Lower Blood Pressure

Patients are always looking for ways to improve their health without needing to take medications. Some disorders are unavoidable to treat without meds, but hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one very common condition that responds to non-medication interventions very well. Lowering dietary salt intake has been a staple of managing high blood pressure for decades. Less talked about however, is the effect of potassium on blood pressure.

Studies show that increasing potassium in diet results in significant blood pressure lowering effects. Potassium plays a role in relaxing blood vessels, as well as increasing the excretion of sodium from the kidneys. The DASH diet (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) recommends 4700mg of potassium a day. High potassium foods include fruits like bananas, oranges, cantaloupes and honeydew, vegetables like spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, zucchini, as well as beans like pinto, lima, and soy. Supplements can also be used, but given the wide variety of healthy, high potassium foods, I recommend going for diet instead!

Some patients with kidney disease may not be able to tolerate a high potassium diet, so it’s best to talk with your direct access primary care about the best diet for you!