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Potassium

Why do I need Potassium?

Potassium regulates the acid-base balance of your body and is essential for nerve and muscle function. Together with sodium, potassium regulates your blood pressure and water balance and keeps your heart muscle beating in a steady, normal rhythm.

Potassium helps reduce muscle weakness, fatigue, irritability, confusion and constipation. It may also lower high blood pressure and protect against the blood pressure-boosting properties of sodium. 

Low potassium intake leads to altered heart rhythm and muscle weakness. Under normal circumstances, dietary deficiency of potassium does not occur, but excessive fluid loss from sweating, diuretic medications, severe vomiting or diarrhea could lead to a deficiency.

 

Who is most at risk?

  • Those taking thiazide-type diuretics

  • Those taking cortisone medications

  • Those who have chronic liver disease

  • Those who drink a lot of coffee (diuretic)

  • Those who drink alcohol regularly (diuretic, and possible liver and kidney damage)

 

Sources

Potassium can easily be obtained in the diet as it is a constituent of all living cells. It is found in bananas, potatoes, dates, raisins, apricots, cantaloupe, chicken, oranges and orange juice, turkey, tomatoes, broccoli and lettuce.

Potassium supplements may be recommended by a physician if you are taking certain medications.

 

Caution

Excessive potassium can cause cardiac arrest.