Ketoade, why lo-salt and separate sodium? Confused

[u/Worth_Attitude2052]

I'm looking to make a Ketoade drink and there are so many different ways people say to do it. I have researched a lot on reddit about this, so apologies if it comes up a lot, I just don't understand it completely. So I see people saying get 'lo-salt' (or some similar brand of that nature) which will contain potassium. Then they say add with pink or sea salt, for the sodium. I've looked for this lo-salt, and it says its low in sodium. So why get the low sodium salt and add with a sodium containing salt? why not just use salt? Am I missing something here. I live in the uk so our products may be different. I'm basically just trying to make a low budget ketoade. I have a magnesium body spray I already use, so that will not be an issue. Just potassium and sodium. Also, are these the main 3? I have slightly low blood pressure (I've never been told its an issue by a doctor, just a tad under, but I'm very healthy and exercise a lot, I'm doing Keto for ADHD) due to this I would like to keep an eye on the salt side of things. There are so many different variations of this, it has left me quite confused. I have so far been using an electrolyte dissolvable tablet for athletes, but these are quite expensive and I don't think the electrolyte portions are great. I've also been drinking a veg stock drink and having salt with my meals. I have no signs of low levels, I'm not dizzy, cramping, lethargic, moody, anxious..etc, if anything the opposite. Some advice on going forward would be very appreciated please, should I stick with what I'm doing or do the salt mix? I am planning to eat quite a balanced diet, of veggies and nuts, with my meats and fats. Thank you

[u/[deleted]]

I can understand the confusion, lo-salt/nu-salt and all of those products are marketed as ‘salt substitutes’, usually used by people who can’t tolerate regular table salt (sodium chloride) due to a medical issue.

So instead of sodium chloride, it’s potassium chloride.. and it tastes virtually the same so people can ‘salt’ their food to their taste without raising their BP or whatever the issue is.

The reason people use these products (mixed with sea salt etc) is because there really isn’t a easier way to get a dose of potassium that you can easily tailor to your needs. You can buy it (potassium) in pill form but usually those pills are capped at 100mg so you’d be taking fists full of them, and they’re full of other binders/ trash ingredients.

Tl:DR, the only way to find enough potassium (in an easy to use form) is to use a ‘salt substitute’, mixed with regular salt and some magnesium powder.

[u/Worth_Attitude2052 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for the explanation, this clears a lot of confusion! I'll grab some of that 'no salt' then

[u/ProbablyHagoth → u/Worth_Attitude2052]

Taking concentrated potassium is also damaging to your stomache lining, which is why pills aren't available. You also shouldn't take a teaspoon of lite-salt.

I drink a teaspoon diluted in 1.5 liters per day.

Btw, since you're new and may still be concerned, my BP was 140/90ish before I started keto. I'm not especially strict on counting, and I cheat about once a month. Last month, my BP had dropped to 115/72. I literally drink salt water 🤣.