Wednesday, June 5, 2013

A quick look at the benefits of potassium

By Robert Mann


One's body requires a wide variety of vitamins and minerals in order to function appropriately and potassium is among one of those critical minerals since our system needs to allow our muscles, cells, and organs to function properly. Potassium is also one of three minerals that make up the electrolyte family of minerals (the other two are sodium and chloride). Potassium is considered an electrolyte since it helps conduct electricity when it is dissolved in water.

Obtaining an adequate amount of potassium in our diet regimen permits us to exploit its many benefits including assisting in the proper function of the heart, aiding with intestinal function and digestion, playing a vital role around healthy muscle tissue and nerve activity, decreasing the potential for high blood pressure levels, mitigating the adverse effects of sodium, and controlling the circulation of nutrients in our body, i.e., assimilation of nutrients into our cells, and transporting waste matter out of our cells.

There have also been assertions that a diet regimen full of potassium and low in sodium would help restore the natural activity of human cells and result in the arrest or reversal of cancerous tumors.

Lower concentrations of potassium in our blood results in a condition called hypopotassemia, aka hypokalemia, and might cause several medical issues which include stomach cramping, queasiness and vomiting, hypertension, heightened potential for stroke, muscular stress and fatigue triggering muscle cramps.

Intense hypokalemia can lead to serious problems with the performance of skeletal muscle tissue and nerves resulting in respiratory depression.

The advocated dose of potassium is anywhere between 4g and 5g per day. That being said, it is very difficult to overdose on potassium. A 150 lbs. (68 Kg) person would have to consume 170g of potassium from a single sitting to reach this lethal quantity. That's the equivalent of consuming 170 avocados (or 400 bananas, or 180 baked potatoes) in just one meal!

Potassium can be found in a mixed assortment of foods which includes everything from vegetables and fruits, to legumes, dairy, and even meat. Some common sources of potassium are tomatoes, bananas, apricot, avocados, and yogurt. This makes it simple to obtain the advised 5g of potassium each day when you keep a healthy sensible diet.

Potassium fun facts: Humans are not the only ones that need potassium to thrive. Plants need potassium as well. Lack of potassium in plants can leave them gray and with turned out edges. The use of potassium has diversified over time. Besides being an important nutrient, potassium is used in explosives and fireworks, various medicines, to make soap, in glass, and to develop photographs (potassium bromide). Potassium chloride can be used as a substitute for sodium chloride by those who need to reduce their intake of sodium.




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