I’ve recently restarted ADF and I’ve been taking electrolytes on fasting days. I happened to test my blood pressure at the end of the day and it was quite high.
I’ve experimented on and off, and found that salt tends to rapidly increase my systolic blood pressure within an hour of consuming it. Conversely, foods high in potassium like spinach and bananas, tend to decrease levels quite quickly.
The reference intake for potassium at least in the UK is 3500mg, but I’ve seen recommendations for like 4700mg elsewhere. That’s like 14 bananas.
Conversely, for those with high blood pressure, doctors don’t recommend more than 1000mg of salt, which is roughly half a teaspoon.
Most commercial electrolyte powders have a much lower proportion of potassium to salt, so in trying to get your potassium fix, you end up overdosing on salt and potentially affecting your blood pressure (at least if you’re borderline hypertensive, like me).
I’m wondering if it’s possible to mostly dose high on potassium and magnesium while fasting, with salts at a little to nothing. What purpose does salt serve, and how badly will the body miss them during a 42 hour fast?
I fast regularly between 96-120 hours don’t worry about electrolytes at that low end of the range for fasting. If you feel like adding potassium and magnesium go for it but you’ll be fine eating food every 48 hours.
Just finished a 64 hour fast. When I first started trying to fast I would hit the electrolytes immediately but now I didn’t touch them until hour 50ish when I had a headache and just put a little bit (of salt and no-salt) in a glass of water to treat it. I felt great again soon after.
If your blood pressure is shooting up, lay off the salt. Until you start going longer you probably won’t miss it at all.
Your body needs salt. You should talk with your doctor about your options for lowering you BP while getting enough salt. Also, maybe find another source of magnesium and potassium… bananas aren’t the greatest for pottasium. There are veggies and other fruits that have higher amounts.