Posted on 12/01/2022 3:41:47 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Dementia impairs sufferers' ability to remember, is irreversible and there is a lack of effective treatments available. However, the effects of dietary sodium and potassium on cognitive function have not been explored in detail.
A group of researchers looked at the impact of dietary sodium, potassium, sodium to potassium ratio, and salt on the cognitive function of a group of elderly people in China.
The research team found that a high intake of sodium (> 5593.2 mg/day) and a high sodium to potassium ratio (> 3.8/day) increased the risk of memory impairment in the elderly. Conversely, higher levels of potassium intake (> 1653.3 mg/day) were associated with a higher cognitive score; the average cognitive test score (13.44 at baseline, total score was 27.00) increased by ~1 point when 1000 mg/day of sodium was replaced with an equal intake of potassium.
In addition, the researchers built on previous studies by demonstrating that the effects of dietary sodium, sodium to potassium ratio, and potassium on cognitive function have the potential to be mediated by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CCVD), while the link between salt and cognitive function can be mediated by sleep.
Although China has attempted to restrict salt and sodium in people's diets for over a decade, the population's intake remains alarmingly high, outstripping many other countries and the World Health Organization's recommendation of a maximum of 1400 mg/day of sodium for people aged 50—79 years and 5 g/day of salt. This high salt intake is commonly accompanied by insufficient consumption of potassium (1499.0 mg/day in this study vs. the Chinese recommended level of 3600 mg/day).
The study's results also confirm previous findings that dietary sodium to potassium ratio could provide a better measure of how these elements impact cognitive function, than looking at separate sodium or potassium values.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Of note, 15 GRAMS of salt = 5,600 mg of sodium. The difference is just a lot of chloride.
Other studies have shown higher death rates for daily intakes under 2,800 mg, or over about 6,500 mg, of sodium a day.
So how does one get their potassium up?
Please tell me an IPA or Guinness counteracts this unpleasantness.
“ So how does one get their potassium up?”
Banannas, avacado, white or sweet potato, coconut milk, lentil, watermelon, beets, black or white beans, edamame, squash, yogurt.
Off the top of my head, there are many more
Yikes, I’m a total salt freak and put tons of it on everything. Guess I better up my potassium at least.
> So how does one get their potassium up?
The two simplest ways are :
1. Morton Lite Salt
2. Durian fruit.
This amount of salt, to give the sodium, is enormous. Have you added your actual amounts up?
Bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew, apricots, grapefruit (some dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins, and dates, are also high in potassium)
Cooked spinach
Cooked broccoli
Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Mushrooms
Peas
Cucumbers
Zucchini
Pumpkins
Leafy greens
Juice from potassium-rich fruit is also a good choice:
Orange juice
Tomato juice
Prune juice
Apricot juice
Grapefruit juice
Certain dairy products, such as milk and yogurt, are high in potassium (low-fat or fat-free is best).
Some fish contain potassium:
Tuna
Halibut
Cod
Trout
Rockfish
Beans or legumes that are high in potassium include:
Lima beans
Pinto beans
Kidney beans
Soybeans
Lentils
Other foods that are rich in potassium include:
Salt substitutes (read labels to check potassium levels)
Molasses
Nuts
Meat and poultry
Brown and wild rice
Bran cereal
Whole-wheat bread and pasta
Perhaps if I had done some of this earlier in life and skipped a few things I might have not had the challenges I had.
Above from Web MD and it turns out to be simply a varied moderate diet, low in salt will do it. As we age we get set in our ways and eat the same things all the time when a varied diet would be much better.
For example, for other reasons I alternate breakfast between:
Old Fashioned Oatmeal with dried fruit and sunflower seeds.
Cream of Wheat and applesauce with cinnamon
Bacon and Fried Eggs
Omlets and Sausage
Fruit Yogurt and Raisin Bran
I really, really wish soup manufacturers would add this to their labels: “Add salt to taste.” But they don’t. Instead they add almost a day’s worth of salt to just one small serving.
Yes, I could make my own soups from scratch. But I’m no Julia Child. It’s a weak point with me. It would be so much easier if the soup people were a little more sensible.
Cut out ADDED salt and salty foods completely. Your heart will thank you later.
So is it the Na or the Cl?
So how does one get their potassium up?
Bah Nah Nahs lol
My blood pressure is perfect though, if I gave up salt I would probably have low blood pressure and feel faint when bending over.
If you have a good internal medicine doc, ask him, but everything I read says we all have way too much salt in our diet due to how much is in processed food and food we buy prepared. Adding salt on top of that bundle and eating salty foods really are not good. My blood pressure was great until it was bad. After cancer and loosing 85 pounds and my stomach it is a lot better now, LOL.
No I’ve never added up my sodium or salt intake, but it’s a lot. A common quip I hear from people watching me eat is “are you gonna have any food with that salt”.
fake salt is potassium chloride
i use it cuz i am supposed to restrict sodium
Previously I thought the only issue with salt was concerning blood pressure, but now that it’s link to a greater chance of dementia, that changes everything. So I definitely will cut down and up the potassium.
Potassium chloride is about $18 / kg.
It must be the radioactivity.
Almost all the nutrients we need are in normal food available easily. My Gastroenterologist tells me to avoid supplements except for my special bariatric vitamin needed post cancer.
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