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Old 08-08-09, 04:46 AM
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ironhorse3
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If you are on high blood pressure medication, then you likely cannot follow the instructions below (because you may be on a potassium sparing type of drug of which there are many). Otherwise:

I recently reviewed a lot of information about potassium, and found that most people probably do not get near the "daily value". Also tablet forms, OTC and prescription, are generally potassium chloride. Fruits and vegetables, of which many authorities are recommended to get 7 to 9 servings (1/2 cup) per day, contain potassium and other anions other than chloride, such as carbonate, citrate and others.

In addition to increasing your potassium intake (which could be a good idea, to help prevent or combat hypertension, diabetes, poor health etc), you could try at the same time to reduce your sodium intake (which may or may not be high, but most Americans do take in a high sodium to potassium ratio every day). (1) avoid salty foods like soups, hamburgers, french fries, other fried foods, other restaurant prepared foods. (2) try to eat 7 to 9 1/2 cup servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Even dried fruit has lots of potassium. Most fruits do and you can get a list of the potassium content of fruits off the internet.

The problem is, to reiterate, that many people can tend to have a high blood potassium level and increased intake would not be safe or useful for them. That's why OTC supplements have such as small amount of potassium. But for young, healthy people with no kidney disease, who are not on high blood pressure medication, are probably safe to try to increase the potassium, from fruits and vegetables. Get your blood potassium checked if in doubt, and monitor it after you have altered your diet.
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