Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Hi fellow paleotics! :)

I have been following a low-carb paleo diet the last three years being in ketosis most of the time and feel great. At times I have been suffering from the dreaded ketosis fatigue or brainfog, most likely related to electrolyte imbalances in my body.

I have tried to supplement by remineralizing my drinking water with either sodium chloride or potassium chloride and noticed (maybe placeboic) improvements.

I am 178 cm tall, weigh 78 kg and my BF ~15 %. I lift heavy wheights once a week.

Dr Eades says:

Potassium is linked to sodium. If you lose a lot of sodium through the diuretic effect of the low-carb diet, you’ll ultimately lose a lot of potassium as well. Keeping your sodium intake up as mentioned above will help preserve your potassium as well. And keeping your potassium levels up helps to ensure that you don’t lose a lot of lean muscle mass during your weight loss. Plus, just as with sodium, adequate potassium prevents cramping and fatigue. (Link)

Thus: If your intake of sodium is adequate, do not bother with potassium?

But this paleohack thread indicates the opposite (link)

What is the ideal ratio of potassium to sodium? Pretty high actually. 8:1? More? Our chronic deficiency of potassium may have significant consequences for declining energy levels and hypertension.

Thus: Increase potassium intake?

Therefore my question is: What is most important to keep track of, sodium or potassium?

edited Nov 25 2011 at 12:03

asked Nov 25 2011 at 9:45

Erik
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greyman · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-25 11:37:48Z UTC

Erik, According to my own experience, as well as the book "The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living", you need to ensure enough intake of electrolytes in low carb diet.

Regarding the sodium, the authors of the book recommend 5g per day (which is quite a lot). I don't see why you would have to add it to drinking water - in my understanding, what one should do is to add enough salt to one's food, or in other words, do not under-salt. Usually, when I buy lunch in a cafeteria for example, I use to add a bit more salt.

Regarding the potassium, the authors also prescribed mineral and vitamin supplements to the patients in their clinic, where they treated them with low carb diet. In my understanding, paleo diet is quite rich in potassium, so you should be safe here.

I can't guess what's your case is exactly, but I had those symptoms you mention when I lost a lot of sodium during hiking and didn't know I need to "refill" it. When a lot of sodium is lost, the body will flush other minerals as well to keep balance. So in my own case, eating enough salt was sufficient to correct the imbalance. I don't keep track of the ratios.

Eric · Answer 2 · 2011-11-25 10:07:09Z UTC

Look at cronometer for a few days and see where you are coming out at. 8:1 is great on the ratio. Magnesium is important for your potassium levels as well. I have almost no salt in my diet. Potassium I do OK on. Yours will be differ from mine for sure.

Cory Michael McKenna · Answer 3 · 2012-02-08 22:43:52Z UTC

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@Huey - protein is a diuretic.

answered Feb 8 2012 at 22:43

Cory Michael McKenna
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Huey · Answer 4 · 2011-11-25 11:27:42Z UTC

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Since when does low carb have a diuretic effect?

Low carb is indeed deficient in those electrolytes (by SAD standards), but that shouldn't be a problem without outside diuretics to screw things up. That's my understanding, anyway.

Disclaimer: I was a coffee abuser for too long (it's a diuretic), so I have no personal experience at being in equilibrium.

edited Nov 25 2011 at 11:27

answered Nov 25 2011 at 10:55

Huey
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Low carb do have a diuretic effect, since you begin the diet and then lasting a few weeks. At least that's what common. – greyman Nov 25 2011 at 11:27

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Low carb diets are absolutely diuretic, specifically when you are low carb enough to be in ketosis. – January Feb 8 2012 at 22:52

James · Answer 5 · 2012-02-09 08:41:01Z UTC

It's a bit twofold. Yes it's diuretic, and no it's not diuretic. It just depends on the timing. What happens when you go low carb is you reduce the amount of glycogen in your body. Less glycogen = less water retention = you pee out more of what you drink.

So when you start a low carb diet from a high carb diet, you're cutting down the glycogen, causing you to pee out the water bound to that glycogen. Once you're low carb and low glycogen, you're just peeing out the water you drink.

Increase sodium, potassium or both in ketosis? (edit: title changed)

5 Answers