NHS TV doctor sodium and potassium warning over supplements

NHS TV doctor sodium and potassium warning over supplements Dr Amir Khan who appears on Lorraine and This Morning spoke out as people started adding salt to their water A TV doctor has given a warning to people who are taking sodium and potassium as supplements. Dr Amir Khan, an NHS GP said there were only 2 occasions people should be taking them - because a great many have suddenly started adding salt to water. People have started adding salt to their drinking water because social media wellness trends claim it improves hydration, boosts digestion, and helps detox the body. Dr Khan, who regularly appears on ITV shows Lorraine and This Morning. On the No Appointment Podcast he said that in the main almost everyone he tests has perfectly normal levels in their blood: “I must file about between 50 and 60 people’s blood results every single day. And two of the things that are always on a kidney function blood test is a sodium and a potassium. Two really common electrolytes. And people are adding salt to water to make themselves hydrate. “Unless people, in my experience, bearing in mind I’m filing this many blood results a day, unless they have a medical problem like a heart problem, a kidney problem, a liver problem, or they’re on medication that affects their electrolyte, the vast majority of people that I file those blood results have normal sodium and potassium levels.” He explained that the body is good at balancing the levels - and it is unnecessary: “Normal because your body your kidneys are so good at balancing those things out. They are and I know anecdotal evidence isn’t evidence but the evidence overall is healthy normal people who are not exercising lots who haven’t got diarrhoea or vomiting don’t have a medical condition don’t need to add electrolytes to their food. “That’s what the study shows and that is what my everyday experience shows. So unless you’re a sweaty Betty gym exerciser or you’ve got the runs and you’re a bit Yeah. Or perhaps a heart condition or a kidney condition. Don’t need them every day.” Dietitians and health organizations state that most people already get far more sodium than they need from their regular diet. The British Dietetic Addociation said that consuming too much sodium can raise blood pressure, strain the kidneys, and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. For people who are not sweating heavily or doing intense endurance exercise, plain water and a balanced diet provide all the hydration and electrolytes required.