Here’s a quick look at how it works: Our bodies insist on balancing the minerals sodium and potassium in our bodies. If one’s low, we’ll throw enough of the other overboard to achieve a balance. It may leave us in a ditch, but, sure enough, we’re balanced.

Why do sodium and potassium need balancing? Well, sodium and potassium contend with each other to maintain the integrity of our cells. One’s on the inside of the cell pushing out like crazy, and the other’s on the outside of the cell pushing in with equal vigor.

And you don’t want either one to win because that means your cells get whacked out of shape, which, needless to say, is not a good thing. That whacked-outness makes for blood pressure problems.

Doctors used to have the smarts to recognize the need for this sodium/potassium balance. If your blood pressure went up, they knew it meant your potassium was dragging.

For years upon years, then, doctors treated high blood pressure by prescribing potassium. Abracadabra! You quickly got back in balance, and life was good.

But then things changed. First, your government in action decided potassium supplements should never contain more than 99mg of potassium. Since everyday living requires somewhere between 3000 and 4000mg, and sickness requires even more, this was idiocy.

Then, although doctors can prescribe potassium at the levels needed to make a difference, they abandoned potassium and jumped on the bandwagon of using medications to artificially lower blood pressure. Basically, they decided to drop the idea of working with the body to make things right and use synthetic substances to interfere with how the body works.

As you might guess, the synthetic approach brought with it some problems. Doctors, however, prefer it. In fact, doctors in practice today have never heard of the natural approach that worked so well for so many years,

But, wait, there’s more! Along with prescribing their synthetic remedy, doctors tell you to cut back on salt. And your body, always seeking balance, starts dumping potassium–which makes things worse.

So consider this:

Don’t cut back on salt, but do switch to sea salt so you get the whole product, including minerals, and avoid the chemicals involved in processing regular table salt. (Page 99 of my e-book Pep for the Pooped has a link to all kinds of sea salt.)

And bump up your potassium. Grocery stores sell salt substitutes made out of potassium. You might want to use one of those liberally. Or chug down a lot of capsules. Or get your doctor to prescribe a realistic level of potassium. Okay, I’m way out on the optimism charts on that last one, but it might be worth a shot.

Just knowing how sodium and potassium balance each other puts you way ahead of the curve. Listen to your body and work it out.

Confused about what vitamins and minerals you need? Not certain about what to look for in nutritional supplements? Bette Dowdell dug herself out of a really deep health ditch, and she wants to use her years of study to help you do the same. Don’t go dragging through life when you don’t have to. Bette’s e-book Pep for the Pooped: Vitamins and Minerals Your Body Is Starving For helps you build a solid health foundation–and takes you directly to the right brand, the best type, at the lowest price. Save time and money–plus get the knowledge you’re on the right track. A free sample chapter and some real help is waiting for you at http://PepForThePooped.com