No need to supplement potassium, IMO. You only lose it if you lose too much sodium.

And no need to worry about it if you do supplement, since most supplements don't have very much potassium.

The RDA is 4700mg, which is crazy high. I think they found crazy high levels were associated with lower blood pressure, so that's how they justify those levels. You are way under the RDA (as is just about everybody), so zero risk for toxicity.

LiftRunRepeat22 wrote: »

Those who take blood pressure medication or diuretics are the ones who need to becareful

You may know about the diuretic effects of a ketogenic diet. That's why a lot of people supplement.

It's really interesting (to me, anyway). A combination of hormonal effects and acid-base balance in the kidney.

If you have normal kidneys,your potassium will not be high

AngInCanada wrote: »

So if keep up on my salt intake alone, the potassium should be ok?

In theory. We dump sodium during ketosis (and probably most carb restriction). If we dump too much, the body tries to conserve the remaining sodium by signalling (via aldosterone) to start dumping potassium instead.

Since very few people understand the need to replenish the lost sodium, they can end up low potassium as well.

No need to go crazy. I just add sodium until my symptoms go away. Works pretty quickly for me. How'd you feel after the salt?

In any case, as @thubten1 implied, the kidneys dump the excess. It may take a few days, though. If you put on some water weight or feel bloated, you may have had more sodium than you need. Back off, and 4 days later water will be dumped along with excess sodium.

I think it's good to add some salt substitute but I just dash a little on my food.
My daughter who has had poorly controlled T1D for a few years and therefore has been making lots of ketones due to not taking enough insulin, has chronically and at times, dangerously low potassium and always has to get it via IV when she's been hospitalized for DKA. BUT, she would have 10 times higher ketones and water/sodium loss than any of us could possibly ever have. But because I know that potassium is lost at least sometimes I I'm low on sodium, I just add a dash of NuSalt on my food.
And if you did get too much, I think you would feel other symptoms before suddenly having a heart attack.
It might also make you feel better to know that recently my daughter was put on a prescription diuretic for retaining water and even though her potassium and sodium levels were both solidly in the right range, they still have her a prescription potassium supplement to take while she's on the diuretic. So It makes sense to me that it's safe to just use some salt substitute on a daily basis knowing that water loss is happening.

I add a 1/4 tsp of Losalt into my bulletproof coffee just to get it up a bit otherwise it looks like I´m not taking in much at all. Seems to do the trick, no more palpitations as electrolytes seem to be balanced.

I feel this way if I don't take my magnesium right away in the morning after I eat. I get very foggy and nauseated. I have never experienced the keto flu (I don't think). But this board has given me so many tips and ideas! Love it!