“UNSUNG HERO” defends against cardiovascular disease

Amazing NUTRIENT wards off irregular heartbeats, protects against heart attacks, and MORE

February is American Heart Month. So, I’m dedicating this month’s newsletter to talking about drug-free ways to protect your heart and avoid cardiovascular disease—the world’s No. 1 killer of both men and women.

In this article, I’ll introduce a natural UNSUNG HERO that research shows SLASHES your cardiovascular disease risk by an impressive 25 percent.

(It’s worth noting there isn’t a drug that comes even close to offering the same impressive benefit. Not even cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, which are foisted upon millions of Americans.)

This amazing NUTRIENT also shows promise in treating atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), a serious condition that causes your heart to beat faster (or in an irregular pattern), raising your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Of course, the mainstream won’t tell you anything about it. Instead, they’ll continue focusing on all the WRONG things… like excess salt (sodium).

So, allow me to first bust the salt MYTH once and for all. Then, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about a TRUE, heart-saving hero.

Salt’s redemption

The National Academy of Medicine loves to blame America’s rampant heart disease problem on excess salt (sodium).

They recommend even healthy, young people limit their sodium intake to just 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day. And that people at high risk of heart disease (which is most Americans over age 55) should limit their intake to just 1,500 mg per day.

But following that advice could set you up for disaster. For one, your body NEEDS sodium to regulate blood pressure, blood volume, and hydration.

Plus, a recent study found that people with HIGHER sodium intakes actually live longer, healthier lives than those with lower intakes. Meanwhile, people with LOWER sodium intakes have a much higher all-cause mortality (which means they’re more likely to die from ANY cause)!¹

And that’s not all…

In a second study on sodium and longevity, researchers found that the optimal daily intake is actually somewhere between 3,000 and 6,000 mg.² In fact, people with that kind of moderate intake have the lowest disease risk and highest life expectancy.

Now—don’t get me wrong… those findings don’t give you carte blanche to load up on all the salty, junk food you want.

The key is ridding your diet of unhealthy, processed junk—and focusing on fresh, unprocessed, healthy foods. Because when you follow a balanced diet full of whole foods, salt intake is NOT unhealthy (and doesn’t need to be monitored closely).

Now, let’s get back to that UNSUNG HERO for heart health…

Mighty MINERAL mitigates heart disease risk

I’m talking about potassium.

It’s an important mineral found naturally in many foods. And your body uses it to maintain fluid levels inside your cells.

But what you may not realize is that potassium is also an electrolyte. It carries a small electrical charge that activates critical functions throughout your body… and in your heart, specifically!³

In fact, potassium keeps your heart beating at exactly the right pace—around 100,000 times per day. It does this by controlling the electrical signals in the myocardium (the middle layer of your heart).

Potassium also helps support normal blood pressure.⁴ And it may even prevent hardening of the arteries, which contributes to other serious heart-related conditions.⁵

In one major study last year out of Europe, researchers looked at the relationship between potassium and cardiovascular health in almost 25,000 middle-aged men and women.⁶

First, they measured potassium (and sodium) intake in all the participants. Then, they took blood pressure readings and asked the participants to fill out lifestyle surveys.

Twenty years later, researchers checked back in on the men and women to see how they fared. It turns out, those with the highest potassium intake at the study’s outset had a 13 percent LOWER risk of developing cardiovascular disease, regardless of their sodium levels.

(You read that right: Even folks with really HIGH sodium levels got the same level of protection, despite the mainstream’s insistence that salt is enemy No. 1.)

Plus, among women, the more potassium in the diet, the lower their blood pressure—no matter their sodium levels.

In a second study, the famous Framingham Offspring Study, the results involving potassium were even more impressive…

This time, men and women with potassium intake higher than or equal to 3,000 mg per day had a 25 percent lower cardiovascular disease risk than those with intakes lower than 2,500 mg per day.⁷

But that’s not all…

As I mentioned above, potassium also seems to help manage those scary episodes of A-Fib…

A natural ally against irregular heartbeats

Atrial fibrillation is a serious, electrical signaling problem that causes the heart to beat in an irregular pattern and often, very rapidly. It can also cause blood clots that lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin are the drugs most commonly prescribed to control episodes of A-Fib. But they come with a slew of serious side effects.

The good news is, since potassium is an electrolyte, it may be a viable alternative to help manage those scary, irregular heartbeats…

In fact, in one study, older patients with A-Fib were given a simple intravenous (IV) infusion of potassium and magnesium when they arrived at the ER.⁹ Ultimately, they had a remarkable 46 percent BETTER chance of getting their A-Fib episode under control compared to those who didn’t receive the infusion.

Plus, some research suggests that low potassium is a major risk factor for developing A-Fib in the first place! In a recent study, men and women with low levels of potassium (less than 3.5 mmol/L) had a 63 percent HIGHER risk of developing A-Fib than those with higher levels.⁸

The study’s authors said their research may one day help lessen the need for patients with A-Fib to take heavy-duty drugs.

Safely UP your potassium levels

These studies show that it makes a lot of sense to do everything you can to optimize your potassium levels.

You can start by recognizing the signs of low potassium.

Some of the most common drugs on the market, including diuretics and laxatives, can cause low potassium.¹⁰ Common signs include:

• Constipation
• Heart palpitations
• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness or spasms
• Tingling or numbness

If you exhibit any of the above signs—or if it’s time for your annual bloodwork—make sure to ask your doctor to check your potassium levels. The normal range is 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L (sometimes also reported as mmol/L).

If you have low levels, work together on a plan to safely UP your intake—through potassium-rich foods and sometimes, supplementation.

But when it comes to the latter, there’s one HUGE caveat: You should only take potassium supplements IF you have high blood pressure. And even then, only take 99 mg of it daily (under a physician’s care). That’s because too much potassium can cause another whole set of problems.

If you have normal blood pressure, skip the supplements and stick with healthy dietary sources of potassium. (See the list of healthy foods high in potassium in the sidebar.)

Now, these are just some of the amazing benefits of potassium—our unsung hero for heart health. So, I’ll be sure to continue reporting on this mighty mineral.

In the meantime, for additional all-natural ways to prevent and reverse some of America’s biggest killers—like high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke—check out my Ultimate Heart-Protection Protocol. To learn more, or to enroll today, click here or call 1-866-747-9421 and ask for order code EOV3Z200.

And keep reading this issue of Logical Health Alternatives for more foolproof ways to safeguard your heart, naturally.

SIDEBAR: EAT more potassium

Bananas are the most well-known food source of potassium. But they aren’t my top pick for upping your intake.

Sure, they’re convenient. (I always call bananas the New Yorkers’ idea of fruit—folks always have one in their purse or tote bag as they zip around the city.)

But bananas contain more sugar than any other fruit. And the riper they get, they more sugar they’ve got.

Instead, get your potassium from other foods with less sugar, such as:

• Avocados (345 mg/half an avocado)
• Sockeye salmon (347 mg/3-ounce serving)
• Eggs (63 mg/per egg)
• Plain Greek yogurt (240 mg/170-g serving)
• Macadamia nuts (104 mg/ounce)
• Swiss chard (961 mg/cup)
• Cremini mushrooms (73 mg/large mushroom)
• Spinach (167 mg/cup)

I should also note that getting more potassium in your diet does a lot more than support your heart…¹¹

It also helps your body metabolize carbs, supports healthy skeletal and muscular systems, improves mental clarity, and even prevents osteoporosis. You may even find that your headaches, low energy, and post-workout muscle pain go away after upping the potassium in your diet, too.

References:

1.  “Sodium intake, life expectancy, and all-cause mortality.” European Heart Journal, 2021; 42(21): 2103–2112. doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa947
2. “Urinary Sodium and Potassium Excretion, Mortality, and Cardiovascular Events.” N Engl J Med, 2014; 371:612-623. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1311889
3. “Potassium.” Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, accessed 11/17/22. (hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/potassium)
4. “How Potassium Helps Your Heart.” WebMD, 3/7/21. (webmd.com/heart-disease/potassium-and-your-heart)
5. “Can potassium help your heart?” NIH Medline Plus Magazine, 1/25/18. (magazine.medlineplus.gov/article/can-potassium-help-your-heart)
6. “Sex-specific associations between potassium intake, blood pressure, and cardiovascular outcomes: the EPIC-Norfolk study.” European Heart Journal, 2022; 43(30): 2867–2875. doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehac313
7. “Higher Intakes of Potassium and Magnesium, but Not Lower Sodium, Reduce Cardiovascular Risk in the Framingham Offspring Study.” Nutrients. 2021 Jan 19;13(1):269. doi.org/10.3390/nu13010269.
8. “Serum potassium levels and the risk of atrial fibrillation: The Rotterdam Study.” International Journal of Cardiology, 2013; 168(6): 5411-5415. doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2013.08.048.
9. “IV Potassium and Magnesium an Acute Treatment for AF?” Medscape, 10/27/22. (medscape.com/viewarticle/983137)
10. “Low blood potassium.” MedlinePlus, 5/1/21. (medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000479.htm)
11. “High-Potassium Diets May Decrease Heart Disease Risk Regardless of Sodium Intake, According to New Research.” Yahoo! Life, 7/26/22. (yahoo.com/lifestyle/high-potassium-diets-may-decrease-170022677.html)