If you're already feeling dizzy, how long does it take to reverse? I started feeling dizzy when standing yesterday. Didn't make the connection until today when I'm dizzy even when sitting. If I start increasing my sodium today, when might I expect the dizziness to decrease again?

MyriiStorm wrote: »

Keto-ade:
1/4 tsp. salt (sodium chloride)
1/4 tsp. "lite" salt (potassium chloride)
1 Tbsp. lime juice
4 drops liquid stevia
16 - 20 oz. water

Some people prefer Mio instead of the lime juice and stevia. I hope you get the electrolytes worked out soon!

We get potassium from various foods. Potassium just isn't always properly listed on foods.
This site lists the potassium in various foods per 100g. Chicken has potassium, eggs, cheese, nuts, greens, and etc.
http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/info/books-phds/books/foodfacts/html/data/data5b.html
http://www.pittsburgh.va.gov/Dialysis/docs/PotassiumValuesofFood.pdf

If you get enough potassium via food and enough sodium, you don't need to supplement much, if at all. So I'd change the ketoade recipe to "up to 1/4 tsp" but I think half that might be better once you know your sodium levels have been fine for some time, as you'll have a reserve that is preserved. Healthy sodium levels preserve magnesium and potassium levels.

Sodium>mag>potassium

So I don't supplement lite salt much any more. I do a few healthy shakes in my ketoade and let it be. If you are getting 5000mg of sodium daily, your magnesium over 400mg, and you still have keto flu symptoms, it's ok to supplement it a little to see if that's what you're missing. But otherwise I wouldn't worry obsessively over potassium as long as you are eating a variety of foods.

baconslave wrote: »

Read this for some more explanations on Electrolytes:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10358179/keto-flu-dizzy-weak-tired-headaches-cramping-muscles-electrolyte-imbalance-may-be-your-problem#latest

This is a good overview and comes in handy even for long-time lchf peeps like me. I just got results back on my Dec. checkup -- turns out I have a mild 1 degree ventricular block (from the ECG). Need to be more vigilant about electrolytes!

Catawampous wrote: »

Here's a question. What do people with HBP do about larger intakes of sodium like this? Is there an alternative that can be used?

My 1st answer would be to talk to your doc letting her/him know you will be (are) eating a ketogenic diet and get her/his opinion regarding increasing sodium and see what they say. All doctors are not ignorant of keto diets and related sodium needs. Nor are they anti-keto.

I think you're eating keto now? Have you had need to increase you sodium and has it increased you blood pressure? Perhaps you might be one of the folks who doesn't need to increase sodium to "high" levels in order to keep electrolytes balanced. Perhaps your "normal" intake is adequate for you.

2nd part, my HBP experience FWIW. I was not eating keto. I was overweight and I was on HBP meds. My doc's instruction was to keep sodium at 1500mg or below. I lost weight. I am off HBP meds. My Doc's instructions were then, since I no longer had high blood pressure, to not exceed 4000 mg of sodium. I was intrigued by that 4000 number being so different than the ~2300 we hear all the time. Fast forward a couple years: I eat keto. I increase my sodium sometimes to 4000 or maybe a little over, as needed or convenient. The increased sodium has not had an effect on my BP.

All said: If my high blood pressure returns, I will darn sure opt for #1 and head straight to my doc for her input and professional expertise telling her I choose to remain keto. I'll then evaluate. The other thing is, as beneficial as keto is for many things, one does not have to eat keto in order to lose weight. Weight loss and exercise brought my blood pressure down. Not keto. Exercise keeps the BP down. I've had at least 2.5 years to test that n=1. Though I have no proof that keto helps keep it down due to it being diuretic, I think it probably does. No proof though.

Sorry so winded. Hopefully there is something in all that to help you make a decision for yourself.

norman_waylon wrote: »

I'm not a doctor and had experiences with the keto flu symptoms in week one and last about 2 weeks. I was tiered, light headed, migraines, and always felt hunger pains. I spoke with a couple of my coworkers who got me on the low carb diet and that said plain a simple.

A) Make sure your getting enough fat. It helps with hunger pains and does help with headaches.

your body is starving for vitamins and minerals. They told me about making sure I take my multi daily and fish oil.

C) They said when it gets really bad drink a PowerAde Zero. This way you can keep one in your lunch pail just in case. And it helped a lot when your at work/school/gym nobody has time to mixing and playing mad scientist with salts and stuff. Let me tell you from my own experience my symptom's cleared up and I was able to move forward with the diet. There is a lot of good answers here but keep it simple. I followed their, and the forums advice, and today I am 4lbs. down.

41 pounds not 4

Oh my. Forgot about my question LOL. I do have HBP but I don't appear to be sodium sensitive. Last time I was at doc's we actually talked about taking me off them!! YAY! But he wants to wait a while because I do have mitral valve prolapse and he wants to monitor that and my BP for a bit yet. My average lately has been about 120/74 and I roughly taken in between 4000/4500 sodium daily.

I think I was more curious than anything if keto was off limits to sodium sensitive folks or if there was another way for them.

Bit of an update on my attempts to re-balance my electrolytes after an odd spell of dizziness and nausea...
I've added a teaspoon of Lo-salt to my diet every day for potassium and have started supplementing magnesium. I seem to get close to enough sodium through just salting food (plus from bacon and cheese) and I haven't experienced any similar symptoms since then, almost a full month ago, so I'm hopeful that I've not only got to the root of the problem but that I've also found the solution!

Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »

Pickle juice. I've always loved it so it's really just giving me a reason to drink it nearly daily. lol
Otherwise I've started making bone broth too and boullion is ok also.

So if I don't want the pickles, just the juice, where can I find that?

suzqtme wrote: »

Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »

Pickle juice. I've always loved it so it's really just giving me a reason to drink it nearly daily. lol
Otherwise I've started making bone broth too and boullion is ok also.

So if I don't want the pickles, just the juice, where can I find that?

I have actually seen that before but it cost more than a whole jar of pickles did!
If all you want is the juice, honestly, is just mix up my own.
Adjust amounts to taste.
I'd try apple cider vinegar, water, salt and you can even throw in some spices if you like. Red pepper flakes, garlic, peppercorns... whatever sounds good.
But you could always buy cheap pickles and just drink the juice

one thing i just started is adding 2 cubes of chicken bouillon to a bottle of water before i go to bed. it'll slowly dissolve overnight. i take it to work the next day and just add some throughout the day to the water i normally drink.