The many benefits of a potassium rich diet

By Rob 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.

Getting a sufficient amount of potassium in our eating plan allows us to make the most of its amazing benefits, which includes, playing a major role in the healthy muscle tissue and nerve activity, supporting the proper function of the heart, lessening the possible risk of elevated blood pressure levels, administering the circulation of nutrients in our body, i.e., absorption of nutrients into our cells, and transporting waste out of our cells, supporting with the storage of carbohydrates employed by our body as fuel, slowing calcium loss that may result in decreased bone mineral density, and decreasing the possibility of cerebrovascular accident.

There have also been claims that a diet regimen abundant in potassium and low in sodium can help revive the natural activity of human cells and may even result in the arrest or reversal of cancerous tumors.

Reduced concentrations of potassium in our blood causes hypokalemia and can result in several health concerns like muscular fatigue which can lead to muscle cramping, irregular bowel motions and/or constipation, unnatural heart rhythm, elevated blood pressure levels, and abdominal cramps.

Extreme hypokalemia could cause significant disruptions towards the functions of skeletal muscle tissue and nerves and can trigger respiratory depression.

The advised dose of potassium is anywhere between 4g and 5g each day. That being said, it is really quite difficult to overdose on potassium. A 150 lbs. (68 Kg) individual would have to ingest 170g of potassium in just one sitting in to reach a fatal amount. That's the same as ingesting 400 bananas (or 170 avocados, or 180 baked potatoes) in one sitting!

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: Besides being an important nutrient, potassium also has several other uses. It is used in explosives and fireworks, to make soap and glass, to develop photographs (in the form of potassium bromide), and in various medicines. Plants need potassium to thrive. Potassium deficiency in plants can leave them with turned out edges and looking gray. Potassium can be used as a substitute for table salt. Potassium chloride can replace sodium chloride if you need to reduce your intake of sodium.




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