Potassium

Potassium is a very significant body mineral, important to both cellular and electrical function. It enables nutrients to move into and waste products to move out of cells. It promotes healthy nerves and muscles, maintains fluid balance in the body, relaxes muscles, helps secretion of insulin for blood sugar control to produce constant energy, maintains heart functioning and is involved in metabolism. It also stimulates gut movements to encourage proper elimination.

Deficiency Signs

Deficiency signs are; Rapid irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, pins and needles, irritability, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, swollen abdomen, cellulite, low blood pressure resulting from an imbalance of potassium: sodium ratio, confusion, mental apathy.

Food Sources of Potassium

Potassium is found in a wide range of foods. Many fruits and vegetables are high in potassium and low in sodium and help prevent hypertension. Most of the potassium is lost when processing or canning foods, while less is lost from frozen fruits or vegetables. Some food sources are; Leafy green vegetables, broccoli, peas, lima beans, tomatoes, potato skin, oranges, bananas, avocados, raisins, dried apricots, watercress, endive, cabbage, celery, parsley, courgettes, radishes, cauliflower, mushrooms, pumpkin, molasses and seaweed.

Best Supplement

Potassium gluconate/chloride, slow-releasing potassium, seaweed, brewer’s yeast.

What Helps Potassium in our Bodies?

Magnesium helps to hold potassium in the cells.

What Robs our Bodies of Potassium?

Excess sodium from salt, alcohol, sugar, diuretics, laxatives, corticosteroid drugs, stress.