The Easiest Way to Lower Blood Pressure May Not Involve Ditching Salt

While cutting back on salt intake has long been a mainstay in treating high blood pressure, new research suggests that upping potassium intake might have a greater effect. It might be time to stock up on bananas, apricots, and sweet potatoes.

It’s estimated that around 30% of the world’s population has high blood pressure, or hypertension, the number one cause of heart disease and premature death. For decades, institutions like the American Heart Association have touted the benefits of reducing sodium intake as a quick and easy way of lowering blood pressure.

However, new research by the University of Waterloo, Canada, suggests that increasing dietary potassium intake might affect blood pressure more than lowering sodium.

“Usually, when we have high blood pressure, we are advised to eat less salt,” said the study’s corresponding author, Dr Anita Layton, Professor of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Pharmacy and Biology at Waterloo and the Canada 150 Research Chair in Mathematical Biology and Medicine. “Our research suggests that adding more potassium-rich foods to your diet, such as bananas or broccoli, might have a greater positive impact on your blood pressure than just cutting sodium.”