Electrolytes (minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium that conduct electricity in the body) play a vital role in blood pressure.  Below are a few interesting tidbits from studies on the subject.  References are listed at the bottom for all of you science nerds like me who want to look up the complete study.  Enjoy!

1. Salt intake does not necessarily cause high blood pressure in everyone – only about 30% of the American population is sensitive enough to sodium that it would affect blood pressure.  (Though I would still recommend eating Celtic salt as opposed to normal table salt to provide sodium in a natural balance of minerals!)
2. Dietary salt intake may be more likely to affect blood pressure if your dietary calcium levels are low.  This may be because calcium helps the body to get rid of excess sodium.
3. 50% of people with low magnesium levels (and many public health experts estimate that up to 80% of the US population doesn’t obtain enough magnesium in their diets) also have high blood pressure. 
4. People with high blood pressure who also have low magnesium levels require more blood pressure lowering medications than those with normal magnesium levels.
5. Most vegetarians have low blood pressure.  This is not necessarily caused by the avoidance of meat but by the fact that a vegetarian diet is naturally higher in potassium because so many plant foods are eaten.
6. The ratio of sodium to potassium in the diet may have more affect on blood pressure than the amount of either nutrient alone.  Those with a sodium/potassium ratio greater than 1.36 were most likely to have high blood pressure.  Those whose sodium/potassium ratio was 0.6 or less were least likely to develop high blood pressure.  While our Essential Electrolyte supplement does contain a small amount of sodium to replenish what would be lost while sweating, it does so in a sodium/potassium ratio of 0.55.

NOTE: This blog is for information only and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner.  If you are being treated for high blood pressure, please consult your doctor before taking any nutritional supplements.

References
1. The Nutr Rep 9(8), August, 1991
2. Am J Clin Nutr 48:1463-70
3. Fed Proc 40(12):2672-9, 1981
4. J Am Coll Nutr 6(4):321-28, 1987
5. Am J Clin Nutr 37:755-762, 1983
6. J Hypertension 4(suppl5):S355-57, 1986

Related posts:

1. What Are Electrolytes?
2. The Many Benefits of Hawthorne
3. Electrolytes for Everything
4. Easy Ways to Control Blood Sugar
5. Ideas for Taking Essential Electrolytes