Americans Aren't Consuming Enough Potassium. Can Potassium Chloride Help?

The "dynamic duo" of sodium and potassium can create a win-win scenario.

According to a Harvard Medical School article, “today, most Americans get barely half of the recommended amount of potassium in their diets.”¹

Potassium is an essential mineral, responsible for managing a variety of important bodily functions.¹ Diets rich in potassium can help keep blood pressure in a healthy range compared to potassium-poor diets since it can help flush sodium out of the body.^1,2 On the other hand, sodium, another essential mineral, is largely overconsumed in the American diet, which is associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure.³ These essential minerals – sodium and potassium – can work in tandem to offset the negative effects of high blood pressure.

Potassium chloride, a common salt substitute, is an important ingredient for public health. When foods are formulated with potassium chloride to reduce the amount of sodium, this also helps boost the food product’s potassium content. Hence, this “dynamic duo” of sodium and potassium can be a win-win scenario for processed foods.³

To help food and beverage manufacturers increase potassium and lower sodium in their foods, Cargill offers a wide variety of potassium-based products to meet consumers’ desires. For example, Potassium Pro^® Potassium Chloride is a go-to-solution for developing lower sodium food products while maintaining the functional benefits and flavors of salt. Additionally, Cargill’s FlakeSelect^® product line features solutions with particles that are homogeneous, low in bulk density, highly soluble and provide superior adherence for topical applications. These potassium-based salts are ideal for developers who seek potassium enhancement or sodium reduction offerings.

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