[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I'd be extremely careful about adding potassium to the diet of a 92-year-old. She most likely has significantly reduced GFR (renal function) and that might induce hyperkalemia (elevated serum potassium), which can have all kinds of deleterious cardiac and neuromuscular effects

A long time friend of mine who had been a professional model, a Liz Taylor look-alike, had gradually over the years gained considerable weight. At age 66 she suddenly passed away in bed while taking a nap. No easy answer such as a heart attack or stroke was evident. A thorough autopsy was conducted. It took awhile to get the results but they found pieces of capsule which had contained potassium in her throat. Apparently she was taking potassium to lose weight. I do not know if she was under medical guidance in this endeavor. She had worked for a veterinarian at one time and thought she knew something about medicine, a very dangerous thing if acted upon IMHO. High potassium (hyperkalemia): Causes, prevention and treatment | American Kidney Fund.

[Michael G.]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Been trying for ages to get my (92-year old) Mother's blood pressure down, but she insists on adding salt to everything, even before tasting it :-(

92 ??? At that age I say let her be and enjoy the rest of her life.
Even with the salt habit, to live to that age she had to do something right.

[jimmyinvillages]

Congrats to OP on weening of all pharma.

The one thing people who want to go down the same path should do (besides the self-accountability to get diet really in control and do a lot of movement) is see a doctor who is in the know and not just embodying the McDonalds' of healthcare.

Unfortunately, this means seeing integrative/functional medicine practitioners, who typically do not/cannot accept medical insurance and require cash payments.

But you either pay up front or you pay at the end for your health. I'd rather pay up front.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Been trying for ages to get my (92-year old) Mother's blood pressure down, but she insists on adding salt to everything, even before tasting it :-(

Found some sodium chloride / potassium chloride mix that claims to taste the same as pure salt, so maybe that will help

If I make it to 92, my kids had better let me eat what I want to eat.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Been trying for ages to get my (92-year old) Mother's blood pressure down, but she insists on adding salt to everything, even before tasting it :-(

Found some sodium chloride / potassium chloride mix that claims to taste the same as pure salt, so maybe that will help

Check with your mother's doctor first. Sodium chloride is just the chemical name of normal plain old table salt. Potassium chloride is another type of salt, made by mixing potassium and chlorine. It's used most commonly as a water softener, but it's also added to foods that advertise themselves as low-sodium, to enhance the flavor of the food product.

It also is not healthy to use as a replacement for table salt if you have kidney problems or with certain medications.

Always check with the doctor, and if you can't get an answer that you understand (whether you agree with the answer or not) then check with your mother's pharmacist.

[asianthree]

Michael great news you should get healthy home town article in DS. I am guessing you have taken into account, your health improved with retirement because less stress? More time to be active, better food choices instead of fast junk because you were working.

Our group of 26 retired from healthcare post working 2 years of pandemic the same month.
19 have lost weight, reduced meds. We all still have sleep issues, after years of trauma call.
Have endless hours to fill, but lower stress levels.
We now live to eat, no longer eat to live whatever we can swallow in 10 minutes.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by jimmyinvillages

Congrats to OP on weening of all pharma.

The one thing people who want to go down the same path should do (besides the self-accountability to get diet really in control and do a lot of movement) is see a doctor who is in the know and not just embodying the McDonalds' of healthcare.

Unfortunately, this means seeing integrative/functional medicine practitioners, who typically do not/cannot accept medical insurance and require cash payments.

But you either pay up front or you pay at the end for your health. I'd rather pay up front.

Unfortunately, that sentence describes the quacks that have been able to dupe some of the gullible public. Do yourself a favor and see a real doctor.

PS: It's not that they wouldn't accept insurance, they'd love to. It's simply that what they do is not recognized as legitimate medical practice so the third-party payers just won't acknowledge and pay them

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Unfortunately, that sentence describes the quacks that have been able to dupe some of the gullible public. Do yourself a favor and see a real doctor.

///.

[BobGraves]

OP, congratulations. I've been eating a carnivore/meat centric high fat diet for the last 18 months. Lost 50lbs, blood pressure went from 130's over 70's to 1teens over 50's, and sleep is great now. I never went on any meds but now Dr doesn't say I need them. The only thing that's high is my LDL but after much research I will NOT go on statins. HDL went up and Triglycerides down (which both are good things). Dr was nervous about LDL so at his request I had a CAC scan which came back with a score of zero (you can't get better than that).
Salt is not the problem with BP. It's inflammation from seed oils and sugar/insulin.
Medical students are still getting less than 20 hours of nutrition education over 4 years, and even most of that has limited clinical relevance. Medical students are taught like a basic computer calculation "If This - Then That". If high BP - then ACE inhibitor, If high cholesterol - then statins, etc. And when the drugs they push have side effects, there's a pill for that too. I don't want to make this political but Hopefully with RFK's MAHA movement, nutrition will be put in the spotlight because the Standard American Diet is the cause of SO MUCH illness.

[Rwirish]

Usually not.

[Topspinmo]

I wouldn’t drop too low, if you get sick (not talking about cold) you have little reserve to help. When I really get illness I usually drop 5 to 10 pounds and that’s not serious illness.. when I had my 17 hour tumor removed when from 215 to 169 in about 8 days.

[Susan1717]

So happy to read about people taking charge of their health! I’m 71 and never been in any meds. I switched to a keto based diet back in my 50s and walk plus hit the gym several times a week. I weigh myself every morning to stay accountable to keep me where I want to be, which is my same weight from age 21. My BMI is 19.2. I only seem to have a slightly high ldl but I’m not getting on statins either. Saw a cardiologist and he said I am fine! My calcium plaque test came up zero and I’ll follow his orders of NO statins.

[RoseyRed]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

Depending on what your conditions, chronic issues are, yes!

I’m in my early 60s, and have take several meds for various conditions (high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, chronic inflammation, etc) since my 30s.

Doctors have never really discussed lifestyle changes with me, but have always been quick to prescribe meds to “mask” the symptoms.

I started researching my various conditions a few years back. I began to focus on diet (get rid of sugars, seed oils, processed foods, high-carb foods), began a focused exercise routine, brought weight down to a BMI of 22.5.

Today, is a red-letter day. I was told to get off my final med, as all my numbers are in very good to excellent range. No longer pre-diabetic. Cholesterol excellent. Blood pressure in very good range. Inflammation eliminated. Lots of energy, sleeping great. How many people in their early 60s can claim this!

I’m posting this as an encouragement to many out there that feel they will be on these meds for life. There is a way off for some. I realize that everyone’s situation is different, and some need to stay on their meds. But for others, there is a way off, through being laser-focused on diet/exercise/weight.

YES! A lot of people do not realize how much diet and lifestyle can change their health! The SAD (standard American diet) diets are marketed for the big companies to make money NOT for our health! I still have a long way to go but, have made so much progress!

[Chickx729]

Functional medical doctors are MD's with extra training. Medicare Advantage Plans limit your care so that may be the problem with coverage. I have parts A&B with a supplement. My doctors NEVER have to pick up the phone to get procedures approved.

[Ptmcbriz]

You are what you eat.