We’re looking at a mineral that’s vital to our health – potassium. This often overlooked nutrient plays a vital role in our health, and understanding its function can help us make better dietary choices. From supporting heart health to regulating fluid balance, potassium is truly a powerhouse. Let’s take a closer look at the importance of this essential mineral in our diet and lifestyle.
What is Potassium?
Potassium, a type of electrolyte, is a mineral that’s essential for the body to function properly. It plays a crucial role in maintaining fluid balance, transmitting nerve signals, and managing muscle contractions, including the vital rhythms of the heart.
One fascinating aspect of potassium is its direct relationship to another mineral, sodium. They work together to maintain the delicate balance of fluids and electrolytes in our bodies. Sodium helps regulate fluid outside cells, while potassium does the same for fluid inside cells. This balance is essential for maintaining blood pressure and overall heart health.
Additionally, potassium plays a vital role in bone health. It helps preserve calcium, which plays a role in preventing osteoporosis.
Health Benefits
Regulates Fluid Balance
Potassium helps maintain the body’s fluid balance. This balance is critical for many body functions, including nerve conduction and muscle contraction.
Heart Health
Potassium plays an important role in maintaining heart health. It helps control blood pressure by counteracting the adverse effects of excess sodium. By controlling blood pressure, potassium can reduce the risk of heart disease.
Muscle and Nerve Function
Potassium is vital for muscle contraction and nerve signal transmission. It helps your muscles move, your nerves to function, and your kidneys to filter blood.
Bone Health
High potassium intake helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Potassium helps the body maintain calcium, a mineral essential for bone health.
Aids in Digestion
Potassium helps the body break down and metabolize carbohydrates. As such, it plays a significant role in digestion.
Stroke Prevention
High potassium intake reduces the risk of stroke (mainly ischemic stroke).
Alleviates Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
A diet rich in potassium can help reduce symptoms of PMS, including bloating and cramping.
Side Effects
Digestive Issues
High potassium levels can disrupt your digestive system, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and bloating. In some cases, it may also result in abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
Fatigue and Weakness
One of the most common side effects of high potassium is a general feeling of fatigue or weakness. Since potassium maintains the function of nerve and muscle cells, too much potassium can interfere with these processes, causing this symptom.
Heart Problems
Potassium plays a vital role in heart health, and excess can cause irregular heartbeats or palpitations. In severe cases, it may even lead to a heart attack. If you experience chest pain or a rapid pulse, seek medical attention immediately.
Numbness and Tingling
Excess potassium can affect nerve function, causing sensations such as numbness or tingling in the hands, feet or legs.
Shortness of Breath
High potassium levels can affect the muscles that control breathing, causing shortness of breath. If you experience this symptom, it is crucial to seek medical assistance immediately.
Food Sources
Animal-Based Food Sources of Potassium
Animal-based foods are generally not significant sources of Potassium. Potassium is predominantly found in plant-based foods.
Plant-Based Food Sources of Potassium
- Banana
- Sweet potato
- Avocado
- Spinach
- White bean
- Swiss chard
- Orange
- Tomato
- Kiwi
- Pomegranate
Other Potassium Sources
Best Overall: Life Enhancement Potassium Supplement at Amazon ($23)
Best Seller: Nature Made Potassium Gluconate at Amazon ($5)
Best Budget: Nutricost Potassium Citrate at Amazon ($20)
Best Overall: Life Enhancement Potassium Supplement
- Pure Potassium Supplement: Each serving contains 1020 mg 22% RDI Potassium (as potassium bicarbonate) in easy-to-swallow veggie capsules with less than 1% Magnesium Stearate. Each one of our potassium bicarb pills contains 510 mg of this essential nutrient for potent and powerful support.
- Potassium Bicarbonate Supplement: Potassium is one of the most important minerals in the body and most of us are not getting adequate amounts in our diets. Improving your potassium intake is a great way to support the complete health and total well-being of your entire body. It’s a daily dose of potassium conveniently!
- Daily Support: Our potassium capsules are designed to improve your daily potassium intake, conveniently and easily. Our potassium capsules offer you simple and natural support for a healthier you.
- A Brand You Can Trust: Life Enhancement has been creating and manufacturing its products for over 25 years. Starting with DHEA in 1995, Life Enhancement has been the leader in introducing supplements to the market.
- Brand: Life Enhancement
- Flavor: Unflavored
- Primary Supplement Type: Potassium
- Item Form: Capsule
- Unit Count: 240.00 Count
Best Seller: Nature Made Potassium Gluconate
- Helps Control Activity Of The Heart Muscle.
- Potassium gluconate helps regulate water balance within the body.
- No Chemical Solvents, Yeast, Starch or Gluten.
- During the summer months products may arrive warm but Amazon stores and ships products in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations, when provided.
- Brand: Nature Made
- Flavor: No Artificial Flavors
- Unit Count: 100 Count
- Item Form: Tablet
Best Budget: Nutricost Potassium Citrate
- Maximum Serving Size 99mg of Potassium (elemental) Per Capsule.
- 500 Potassium Citrate Capsules Per Bottle.
- Do not exceed recommended serving size.
- Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Soy Free, 3rd Party Tested.
- Made in a GMP Compliant, FDA Registered Facility. Lid May Be Blue or White.
- Brand: Nutricost
- Flavor: Unflavored
- Primary Supplement Type: Potassium
- Item Form: Capsules
- Unit Count: 500 Count
Fun Facts
Fact 1: Elemental Potassium is Reactive
In its pure form, potassium is a highly reactive metal that can even explode when it comes into contact with water!
Fact 2: Potassium is a Key Player in Photosynthesis
In the plant world, potassium plays an important role in photosynthesis, helping plants convert sunlight into food.
Fact 3: Potassium is the Eighth Most Common Element on Earth
It’s found abundantly in the Earth’s crust and is present in many natural water sources.
Fact 4: The name “Potassium” has a Historical Origin
It derives from the word “potash,” which refers to the ashes left behind after plant material is burned. Early chemists extracted potassium from this potash.
Fact 5: Potassium is Critical for Heart Function
This mineral is essential for maintaining heart rhythm, and an imbalance can lead to serious heart complications.
Fact 6: Potassium is Part of Every Cell
Every single cell in your body needs potassium to function, which is why maintaining the right balance is so crucial.
