Blood pressure

Hello,

I have a question regarding potassium salt. If my diet includes around 5000 mg of potassium and the potassium to sodium ratio is approximately 6:1, it may not be advisable to use potassium salt, correct? It might be better to use regular salt in this case and focus on reducing the amount of potassium instead? Or is it unnecessary, and I don’t need to particularly lower the potassium intake?

The ratio of potassium to sodium should be balanced, as an excess of either element has its consequences - for sodium, for example, it can lead to increased blood pressure, while for potassium, it can affect heart rhythm or muscle function. A ratio of 6:1 is already higher, although, on the other hand, the overall amount of potassium does not reach an extreme, so this situation under normal conditions is not health-threatening (theoretically, it may lead to increased fatigue due to low sodium intake, especially in physically active individuals). Nonetheless, it is not advisable to use potassium salt; prefer sources of NaCl. Do not reduce potassium here; it is more reasonable (and practically easier) to slightly increase sodium intake.

Hello, Mr. Jelínek,

What amount of garlic per day is suitable for a person with low blood pressure? And what would you recommend to increase blood pressure?

Thank you.

In this case, it depends on the quality (= content of active nutrients) and form (raw x cooked x dietary supplement...) in which you consume garlic. Heat treatment destroys the vast majority of substances that lower blood pressure, while for dietary supplements, the method of technological processing of the product is crucial, i.e., the amount of active ingredients the manufacturer guarantees in the product. In practice, it is common that some supplements have virtually no effect, while others significantly influence blood pressure.

The best way to raise blood pressure is through stress or physical activity (the second option is considerably more beneficial for health :-).

Hello, I would like to ask by what mechanism the absorbed CO2 from carbonated water increases blood pressure. Thank you.

In a situation where you consume a larger amount of carbonated water with an unnaturally high CO2 content (higher than in natural sources), a rapid absorption of a significant amount of gas occurs. The respiratory quotient value shifts, leading to an increased respiratory rate. Simultaneously, the partial pressure of CO2 in the blood increases, which is associated with a rise in blood pressure (including heart rate).