Potassium

Potassium

Potasium works with sodium to regulate the body's water balance(electrolytes) and normalize heart rhythms.(Potassium works inside the cells, sodium works just outside them.) The electrolytic balance between potassium and sodium is needed for a healthy nervous system and a regular heart rhythm. Potassium also regulates the transfer of nutrients to the cells. Potassium helps prevent stroke, aids in proper muscle contraction, and prevents mental and physical stress. Potassium aids in clear thinking by sending oxygen to brain, helps dispose of bodily wastes, assists in reducing blood pressure, and assists in allergy treatment. Symptoms of potassium deficiency include edema, hypoglycemia, irregular heart beat, and muscle fatigue. Excessive caffeine, alcohol, laxatives and diuretic consumption causes potassium loss. A craving for sweets could also indicate a need for potassium. Kidney disorders can also disrupt potassium levels. Although potassium is needed for hormone secretion, hormones secreted as a result of stress cause a decrease in the potassium-sodium ratio both inside and outside the cell. Food Sources: dairy foods, fish, fruit, legumes, meat, poultry, vegetables, and whole grains, apricots, avocados, bananas, blackstrap molasses, brewer's yeast, brown rice, dates, figs, dried fruit, garlic, nuts, potatoes, raisins, winter squash, tourla, wheat bran, yams, brussel sprouts, sunflower seeds and papaya. Herbal Sources: Alfalfa, blue cohosh, birch, borage, camomile, coltsfoot, comfrey, centaury, dandelion, dulse, eyebright, fennel, irish moss, kelp, mistletoe, mullein, nettle, parsley, peppermint,plantain, primrose, raspberry, shepherd's ppurse, white oak bark, wintergreen, yarrow. Supplementation: Available in most high-potency multivitamin and multimineral preparations. Organic potassium refers to the chelated forms potassium gluconate, potassium citrate, and potassium fumarate.