On 31 August 2025, researchers led by Professor Henning Bundgaard of Copenhagen University Hospital reported at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Madrid that diets higher in potassium—found in leafy greens, bananas, broccoli, spinach, and salmon—were linked to a 24% lower risk of heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms, and death.
Key takeaways
- Higher dietary potassium was associated with a 24% reduction in heart-related illness and all-cause mortality.
- The analysis examined how boosting potassium helps the body excrete excess sodium, a known driver of cardiovascular risk.
- In a trial of 1,200 patients with implantable defibrillators, 600 were assigned to a potassium-rich dietary pattern; findings were presented at the ESC Congress in Madrid.
- Elevated blood potassium levels correlated with fewer heart events, fewer hospitalizations, and lower risk of death from any cause.
- Researchers warned modern processed diets are typically high in sodium and relatively lower in potassium compared with historical patterns.
- A separate April study in the American Journal of Physiology–Renal Physiology linked higher potassium intake with lower blood pressure.
- Examples of potassium-rich foods cited include leafy greens, bananas, broccoli, spinach, and salmon.
Verified facts
The new findings center on the interplay between sodium and potassium. Sodium retention raises blood pressure and strains the cardiovascular system. Potassium helps the kidneys excrete sodium, improving fluid balance and easing pressure on blood vessels and the heart.
The study team evaluated whether increasing potassium intake could offset sodium’s cardiovascular harms. According to the presentation, individuals with higher blood potassium levels had significantly fewer adverse outcomes—defined as heart events, hospital stays, or death from any cause—than those with lower potassium levels.
Researchers trialed 1,200 patients who had implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). Half (n=600) were assigned a diet emphasizing potassium-rich foods; results were disclosed at the ESC Congress in Madrid, described as the world’s largest cardiology conference.
Professor Henning Bundgaard, the study’s lead, underscored that potassium is vital for normal heart electrical activity. Inadequate intake, he noted, is tied to arrhythmias, heart failure, and higher mortality risk.
Context & impact
Experts cautioned that modern eating patterns—especially those heavy in processed foods—often tilt the sodium–potassium balance in the wrong direction. The reported shift from a historically high potassium-to-sodium ratio toward a sodium-dominant pattern may help explain rising cardiovascular risk in many populations.
Public-health implications are broad: modest dietary changes that raise potassium (while curbing excess sodium) could improve heart health at scale. Foods highlighted by the researchers—such as leafy greens, bananas, broccoli, spinach, and salmon—offer accessible options for many households.
Independent evidence also supports the mechanism. An April publication in the American Journal of Physiology–Renal Physiology indicated that adding potassium-rich foods can reduce blood pressure, reinforcing the potential for dietary potassium to complement sodium reduction strategies.
Practical considerations
- Potassium-rich options mentioned: leafy greens, bananas, broccoli, spinach, salmon.
- Reducing highly processed, salty foods helps restore a healthier sodium–potassium balance.
- Individuals with kidney disease or those on medications that affect potassium should seek medical advice before significantly changing intake.
Official statements
“Our modern diet tends to add sodium and reduce potassium,” Bundgaard said, pointing to the shift away from fruit- and vegetable-heavy eating patterns.
Henning Bundgaard, Copenhagen University Hospital, via conference remarks and reporting
Increasing potassium from everyday foods like bananas or broccoli may influence blood pressure more than cutting sodium alone, the authors suggested.
American Journal of Physiology–Renal Physiology (April study)
Unconfirmed
- Peer-review status of the new findings was not specified; results were presented at a conference and may still undergo journal review.
- Details of the diet protocol (exact foods, targets, and sodium limits) were not fully described in the report.
- The article referenced a diet “low in meat,” while also noting meat can contain both potassium and sodium; the rationale and specifics need clarification.
- The 24% figure reflects a relative risk reduction; absolute risk change and subgroup effects were not provided.
Bottom line
Raising dietary potassium—by choosing foods like leafy greens, bananas, and fish—was linked to a notable drop in heart events and early death in research presented at the ESC Congress. While fuller peer-reviewed data will clarify effect size and applicability, the results align with established guidance to limit sodium and favor potassium-rich whole foods.