Processed foods have too much salt and not enough potassium, which makes it harder for your body to control blood pressure.
Context Details
Domain
cardiology
Population
human
Subject
processed foods
Action
are
Target
low in potassium exacerbating hypertension
Intervention Details
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Increasing the dietary potassium intake reduces the need for antihypertensive medication.
This study found that eating more potassium can help reduce the need for blood pressure medication.
Contradicting (2)
Postprandial Vascular Effects of a High Potassium Meal in Patients with Treated Hypertension
This study found that a single meal high in potassium did not immediately improve blood vessel function in people with controlled high blood pressure.
Excess dietary potassium raises blood pressure in male mice by an aldosterone-dependent increase in ENaC
This study found that too much potassium can actually increase blood pressure in male mice, which seems to contradict the idea that more potassium is always better for lowering blood pressure.