“Miracle Mineral” Takes A Healthy Chunk Out of Heart Risk
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted September 18, 2022
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
I’m sick and tired of hearing about certain health problems that aren’t really problems at all. You know, like having high cholesterol and too much stomach acid.
But one of the most maddening non-problems is the widespread belief that salt is inherently unhealthy.
Warnings about eating too much salt are EVERYWHERE. The trouble is the research doesn’t back up the belief that salt has anything to do with blood pressure control.
If you’ve been suffering through bland salt-free meals, that’s worth repeating. There’s little to no proof that eating salt causes high blood pressure issues.
In fact, you can trust your body’s salt cravings (I wish I could say sugar was the same). It’s simple. If you want salt, then eat it. If you feel like you’ve had too much salt, then don’t.
Your body is quite efficient at balancing the amount of sodium in your system. It will dump any excess amounts of the mineral the next time you go to the bathroom.
But there’s another related mineral that’s vital for your overall health… especially your heart health… that many folks get too little of.
I’m talking about potassium.
Heart disease is no joke. It kills 700,000 people a year. But tossing your salt shaker into the trash isn’t going to help you avoid heart disease. Getting enough potassium, on the other hand, certainly will.
In fact, a new study from the European Society of Cardiology found that getting more potassium in our diets could dramatically cut heart disease – especially in women.
The study compiled data on sodium and potassium concentration in urine samples from 11,267 men and 13,696 women with an average age of around 59.
The researchers separated the study volunteers into three groups: low, medium, and high potassium intakes. They then followed the participants for almost 20 years.
The group with the highest potassium intake had a significant 13 percent drop in heart disease risk, no matter their salt levels.
In other words, it’s vital to make sure you’re getting enough potassium.
That can be a bit more difficult than it sounds if you rely on supplements alone. For reasons still unclear, regulators limit the amount of potassium in a pill to 99 milligrams.
But a few tweaks to your diet can help you get all the potassium you need. There are plenty of potassium-rich foods, including avocados, salmon, white beans, and potatoes.
P.S. Salt plays a key role in your muscle and heart health. And despite what conventional medicine says, research shows it’s perfectly safe for your heart, too. Here’s what you need to know.
Source:
“Sex-specific associations between potassium intake, blood pressure, and cardiovascular outcomes: the EPIC-Norfolk study,” European Heart Journal, Volume 43, Issue 30, 7 August 2022, Pages 2867–2875, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehac313
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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