Blood Pressure has cranked up

(Troy John) #1

Always been at around 120/85, even when on keto, which I am still on, but lately for the past 4 months, it has been going up around 148/90. Too high in my humble opinion. I am getting over 4000 of sodium from foods and supplementation and am taking 300 mg of magnesium supplementation which I have played with and works well at that level. I also have one slightly swollen ankle so am thinking I should reduce supplementing with sodium. I take about 50 gms of carbs average as that works for me, the 20 grams zapped me of energy. I dont drink coffee, only tea, drink enough water and dont eat much of junk foods. Exercise and do yoga along with meditation. So, what am I doing wrong? Anyone gone through this to suggest? Thank you!

(KCKO, KCFO šŸ„„) #2

Has an added stressor come into your life recently, since this started? It is not always about the food with BP.

Mine only goes that high when I am at the drs office. So I keep a monitor at home and once a year show my dr. my numbers from it, No issues with BP when not at the drā€™s. office.

It has gone way up when I have had s serious shock/stess inciden, like having to take my DH to the ER It went up high over the next few days as I dealt with those issues.

(Edith) #3

How is your potassium intake? I noticed my blood pressure creeping up after I was keto for a while. When I added come KCl to my salt supplementation, my BP went back to normal. Potassium deficiency can contribute to high blood pressure.

(Robin) #4

I would certainly try reducing your sodium intake firstā€¦ low hanging fruit.

(Troy John) #5

Thank you. How much KCI are you taking now as supplementation?

(Jane) #6

Interesting - most of the foods considered high in potassium we donā€™t eat, such as fruit, root vegetables, beans, peas and milk.

I use heavy cream in my coffee but not very much. The article on high potassium foods mention meats so we get plenty of that but may not be enough potassium for some.

(Edith) #7

I used a 3:1 ratio of himalayan salt to KCl. That seems to work for me. I also donā€™t notice the taste of the KCl (of which I am not a fan) at that ratio.

(Troy John) #8

Thanks again. When you say 3:1 ratio, this is in supplement form only and not what you get from food, corrrect?

(Troy John) #9

Thanks, although I eat meat but it is not everyday.

(Troy John) #10

I am not too sure about that as I seem to be at the lower end for keto requirements. When I go lower than the 4k, I find I dont do that well. But thanks for your input.

(Edith) #11

Correct. This is for salt mix that I add to water for drinking.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #12

You can use Lo Salt, or whatever itā€™s called in your area. Itā€™s a 50:50 blend of sodium chloride and potassium chloride, and itā€™s inexpensive.

#13

Hello,

your energy will come back after a while. Ketones are good fuel,you may even have more energy than before.

IĀ“m using myself as an example here:

IĀ“m on BP medication,been for years, I adjust the need on the fly, in summer I often need less meds. When IĀ“m not in Keto, even with meds IĀ“m 150/100 but when I drop carbs to 5-15 g/ day , IĀ“m 115/75 without the medsā€¦ IĀ“m still taking one pill out of the usual four for now. My heart is not healthy, it is not working full power plus I have A-fib.

Of course IĀ“m doing this secretly,doctor does not want to hear the ā€œKetoā€ word. Red meat,animal fats etc are strictly forbidden, the usual storyā€¦

But maybe try lower carbs for a while and see?