Why Cutting Sodium and Raising Potassium Could Change Your Life — Even When It Feels Worse at First
If you’re feeling drained, foggy-headed, or struggling to catch your breath on a simple walk — even though you’re already working on copper — you’re not alone. Tens of thousands in our group have been exactly where you are. The hidden missing link for many people? Too much sodium and far too little potassium.
Most of us are short about 100 grams of total-body potassium while eating way too much sodium from regular salt, “healthy” salts (Himalayan, Celtic, sea salt), processed foods, snacks, and restaurant meals. Here’s what’s really happening — in plain English:
Copper is a game-changer because it helps your mitochondria make more ATP (cellular energy). That extra ATP powers the sodium-potassium pump in every cell — the pump that pushes sodium out of your cells and pulls potassium in.
When you add copper, the pump starts working harder and more efficiently. This is great long-term, but in the beginning it can push extra sodium out of your cells into the space around them. If your sodium intake is still high, you may temporarily feel more bloated, more tired, or even have trouble breathing during activity.
That’s why simply “trying potassium for a day or two to see if you feel better” usually backfires. Most people actually feel worse the first week or two as the body starts clearing out years of sodium overload. Diarrhea can happen too, which temporarily flushes out more potassium.
This is normal. It’s not that potassium or copper is hurting you — it’s your body doing a deep clean. The real fix takes time and persistence:
- Your body has a big potassium deficit to refill (around 100 grams or more).
- Your kidneys and hormones need weeks to adapt so the new potassium actually stays in.
- High sodium kicks potassium out of your body faster than potassium can push sodium out — so lowering added sodium is crucial.
When you stick with it — lowering sodium salts and raising potassium to about 3 grams a day (from food and supplements like potassium chloride) — the rewards come:
- Energy returns.
- Brain fog lifts.
- Muscles feel stronger.
- Breathing during walks or workouts gets dramatically easier (many of us went from hyperventilating on short walks to enjoying 30-minute runs without struggle).
This is a natural part of The Copper Revolution. Copper gives you the extra ATP to run the pump efficiently. Potassium gives the pump the raw material it needs. Together, with lower sodium, they restore balance so your nerves, brain, heart, and muscles can finally work the way they’re meant to.Simple way to begin:
- Stop adding any sodium salts (yes, even the fancy ones).
- Use potassium chloride instead (like Nu-Salt).
- Gradually work up toward 3 grams of extra potassium per day while eating more potassium-rich foods (potatoes, avocados, spinach, beans).
- Be patient and kind to yourself during the first couple of weeks.
You don’t have to be perfect. Just consistent. Our 73,000+ member Facebook group is full of people who felt exactly like you — tired, foggy, and frustrated — and who are now sharing their wins as energy comes back and symptoms fade. You’ve already started the Copper Revolution. Adding this sodium-potassium balance is often the next big step that makes everything else click. Start with one small change today.
As your energy improves and the brain fog clears, go back and read the full 13 essays on sodium and potassium.
They’re short, practical, and full of real forum experience that has helped so many of us.
You’ve got this.
We’re all in this together. Drop your first small win in the group when you’re ready — we celebrate every single one.
Lower the sodium. Raise the potassium.
Support it with copper.
Give it the time it deserves.
Your future self will thank you.
Essay by Jason Hommel and SuperGrok over on X.com