Potassium and Health
Potassium is an important micromineral that your body needs.It offers many health benefits to your body.It helps in the functioning of the nervous system.It plays a major role in maintaining healthy blood pressure.It’s also an electrolyte. Electrolytes conduct electrical impulses throughout the body. Its main role in the body is to help maintain normal levels of fluid inside our cells. Sodium, its counterpart, maintains normal fluid levels outside of cells. Potassium also helps muscles to contract and supports normal blood pressure.They assist in a range of essential body functions, including
blood pressure,normal water balance,muscle contractions,nerve impulses,digestion,heart rhythm and pH balance (acidity and alkalinity).Healthy kidneys maintain normal potassium levels in the body because they remove excess amounts through urine.
Symptoms if you are having potassium level imbalance in your body You may have extreme fatigue,muscle spasms,weakness,cramping,irregular heartbeat,constipation or nausea.Potassium deficiency or hypokalemia may happen if you have kidney disease,excessive sweating,diarrhea,vomitting and magnesium deficiency.Too much of potassium or hyperkalemia may be due to having kidney disease,chemotherapy and diabetes.
Blood pressure and cardiovascular health
Low potassium intake has repeatedly been linked with high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Maintaining a low sodium intake is essential to lowering blood pressure, but ensuring a good intake of potassium may be just as important.
An increase in potassium intake along with a decrease in sodium is crucial to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.Hypertension or high blood pressure is a serious health condition that requires timely treatment.A balanced diet is important to maintain the potassium level in the body.Diet can help in managing healthy blood pressure.A diet rich in dried apricots,banana,spinach,coconut water,watermelon,potatoes and pomegranate etc. can bring down your blood pressure and fight the risk of other health issues.
Bone and muscle maintenance
Potassium-rich foods maintain an alkaline environment in the body, unlike in acidosis. Metabolic acidosis is triggered by a diet full of acidifying foods like meat, dairy products, and processed cereal grains. Acidosis is a common outcome due to this.Acidosis can cause nitrogen excretion, loss in bone mineral density, and muscle wasting. A diet high in potassium can help preserve muscle mass in older people, as well as during conditions that tend to lead to muscle wasting, such as diabetic ketosis. However, a sufficient potassium intake can help prevent this.Planning lab testing now?. Tuhealthy App helps you to find quest lab diagnostics near you.
