For more than 50 years, health experts have advised people to decrease salt intake to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart failure and coronary artery disease. Low potassium intake also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the combination of high salt and low potassium intake increased the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. High salt intake increased the yearly death risk by 20 percent, while high potassium intake reduced the risk of death by 20 percent. These results were not affected by sex, race, body mass index or blood pressure. This study tracked more than 12,000 U.S. adults for nearly 15 years. Consume less salt and more potassium.
Source: Archives Internal Medicine, 171: 1183-1191
