Potassium: The “Other” Salt
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom When it comes to food, when we hear the word “salt,” most of us automatically think about sodium. The emphasis on lowering sodium intake to promote heart health is important and well documented. But there’s another important salt in the dietary picture: potassium. Getting the right balance of sodium and potassium is another key component for heart health. According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , 90% of a group of of 12,500 people consumed more than 2,300 mg of sodium daily, the upper limit from the American Heart Association (AHA). While sodium intake was up, potassium intake was down. This group consumed only about half of the AHA recommendation of 4,700 mg/day per day. How does this finding translate into what you should eat? Because nearly three quarters of daily sodium intake comes from the consumption of processed foods (food contained in boxes, cans, and bags), cutting back on these items can drastically...