Potassium plays a vital role in the body. It is very rare for a person to experience a potassium shortage due to poor nutrition. However, many people don’t ingest the recommended amount of potassium. Let’s first list the potassium-rich foods. Then let’s look at what that is and what effects an excess or a deficit can have.
You probably know that potassium is a mineral. It is essential for our bodies to function properly. It is an electrolyte. It is responsible for nerve function, muscle contraction, and maintaining a stable heart rate. Potassium helps nutrients flow into cells and flushes out cellular debris. Cade noted that potassium intake can help counter some of the negative effects of sodium on blood pressure.
Even though many people don’t eat the recommended daily potassium intake, it is rare that there is a lack of potassium in the body. It is more common when there is a sudden loss in fluids (diarrhoea or chronic vomiting, blood loss, extreme sweating, or diarrhoea).
These are just a few of the symptoms of hypokalaemia (potassium deficiency). For more information, see this post.
The kidneys in the human body are responsible for eliminating excess potassium. Because their kidneys don’t remove excess potassium, people with chronic kidney disease might find it difficult to maintain the right level of potassium in blood. Some medicines can also increase potassium levels in the blood. You can also suffer from severe dehydration.
A normal person does not need to worry about potassium excess. The body is able to regulate it perfectly. Hyperkalaemia can lead to muscle weakness, paraesthesia arrhythmia and even cardiac arrest in some rare cases, such as the ones we have mentioned.
* Paresthesia refers to the sensation of heat, tingling or freezing that certain patients with the nervous system or circulatory system feel in the skin.
These foods are good options to increase potassium intake. You may have been told to avoid potassium.
Consult your doctor if you have questions about your blood potassium levels. Your situation will dictate whether you should increase or decrease your potassium intake. It is important to stay hydrated in any case. This is the best way to prevent a potassium deficiency.
My name is Debra Cargill, I live in my home in Springfield, Massachusetts and have been looking for new direction in my life. I started blogging recently and I've discovered a new passion in life. This blog is all about health, wellness, life issues and about lifestyle in general where I cover a broad range of topics on the subjects....
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