Sodium-to-Potassium Ratio

Most adults consume 3,500–5,000 mg of sodium against only 2,000–2,500 mg of potassium — roughly the inverse of the ancestral pattern. Raising potassium to 3,500–4,700 mg/day through vegetables, legumes, avocado, and fruit lowers blood pressure comparably to cutting sodium, and the two together work best. People with kidney disease or on potassium-sparing medication should adjust only under clinical supervision.