Inclusion Criteria:  -African American patients with pre- or Stage I hypertension, with systolic blood pressure of 120-139 mm or diastolic BP of < 90 mmHg.  Exclusion Criteria:  Diabetes mellitus, Renal impairment (serum creatinine > 1.4 mg/dL), Any heart diseases such as congestive heart failure or sustained arrhythmia, Chronic NSAID use, Treatment with diuretics, including spironolactone Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) requiring treatment with acid reducing agent or antacid more than once a week, Esophageal-gastric ulcer, Chronic diarrhea, Hyperkalemia (serum K > 5.0 mmol/L), Abnormal liver function test (AST or ALT above upper limit of normal range), Subjects who require any potassium supplement on a regular basis for any reason, Pregnancy, History of major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, and History of substance abuse.