Congratulations to moreless for this forum! I have greatly appreciated your knowledge and hope one day I may share my knowledge as freely as you.

Now to business...

I was forming this question when everything started jumping so I waited... I am also aware that the “alkalizing drink” has a pretty good dose of potassium in it. But is it enough with diet?

I have read a little about the potassium sodium pump in the body and the roll it plays on the intracellular/extra cellular fluids. To the point: I have always seemed to gain weight when I increased liquids, even plain water, and recently began to think (after stumbling upon the potassium sodium pump information) that I may have a potassium deficiency OR an over abundance of sodium. For the record, I have fought high blood pressure as well.

The USRDA for potassium is 3,500 mg (from internet sources) or 3.5 grams, however the FDA apparently only permits 99mg supplements; I find this interesting as my wife who is following a weight loss plan through a paid program is required to eat two apples and use only potassium salt as a replacement for table salt... one serving of this potassium salt appears to provide 340mg of potassium; 3.5x the amount of potassium allowed in potassium supplements by the FDA, go figure!

How does balancing pH help to balance the sodium potassium pump? Or does balancing the potassium to sodium ratio in the body have a positive effect on the pH? Does a more balanced pH help the potassium sodium pump to work better through the additional electrical energy that seems to be responsible for the pumps action? In addition, how can we help boost our daily potassium intake? I am currently eating quite a bit of fresh vegetables and a piece of fruit or two, along with the alkalizing drink and kelp or dulse, but am wondering if I should cut out all salt including sea salt and possibly the sole I take to see if this will help? Quite honestly I am a little afraid to do this because when I went from using table salt to unrefined sea salt AND eliminated sugars (artificial or otherwise) and hydrogenated oils my Blood Pressure fell from 170\110 to near normal. With the addition of exercise I am near normal or below normal 115\75 - 125\85. But am still struggling with excess weight (have lost about 45lbs in 16 months). With what I have been doing in terms of diet and exercise this seems a little slow when I have another 25 - 30 to loose, which I feel is almost entirely due to fluid retention and may have something to do with this sodium potassium pump.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

thanks,

grz