A new study published in the European Heart Journal, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), found that potassium-rich diets were associated with lower blood pressure, particularly in women with high salt intake.
Study author Professor Liffert Vogt of Amsterdam University Medical Centers, the Netherlands said, ”It is well known that high salt consumption is associated with elevated blood pressure and a raised risk of heart attacks and strokes. Health advice has focused on limiting salt intake, but this is difficult to achieve when our diets include processed foods. Potassium helps the body excrete more sodium in the urine. In our study, dietary potassium was linked with the greatest health gains in women.”
The study included 24,963 participants (11,267 men and 13,696 women) of the EPIC-Norfolk study. All participants were 40- to 79-year-olds from general practices in Norfolk, U.K., between 1993 and 1997. Each was required to collect urine samples, measure blood pressure, and complete a questionnaire on lifestyle habits. Urinary sodium and potassium were used to estimate dietary intake.
When researchers analyzed the association between potassium intake and blood pressure, it was found that potassium consumption was associated with lower blood pressure in women. Researchers noted that the relationship between potassium and blood pressure was only observed in women with high sodium intake. In men, there was no association between potassium and blood pressure.
During a median follow-up, researchers analyzed the association between potassium intake and cardiovascular events and found that people with the highest potassium intake had a 13% lower risk of cardiovascular events compared to those with the lowest. When men and women were analyzed separately, the corresponding risk reductions were 7% and 11%.
Keeping the Heart Healthy
These results show that potassium can help to preserve heart health, especially in women. But potassium isn’t the only way to help keep the heart healthy.
Heart Rescue was designed to help support and promote cardiovascular health using a variety of ingredients, including omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10. The omega-3 fatty acids play an essential role in cardiovascular function, while CoQ10 is involved in energy production at the cellular level. These two heart superstars are supported by 5 other ingredients can help to promote and support cardiovascular function as you age. This formula’s health benefits can help strengthen the heart muscle, support circulation, and help reduce the risk of heart disease.