An essential macromineral and vital to human nutrition, potassium plays a key role in both the physiologic and biochemical processes of the body. Potassium is important to the contraction of smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscles. It is also essential to the synthesis of nucleic acids, the transmission of nerve impulses, the maintenance of normal blood pressure, and the preservation of intracellular tonicity. Ideas suggesting high consumption of potassium to cause an anti-hypertensive effect first surfaced in the year 1928. However, in the years to come, mounting evidence now indicates that a diet high in potassium may actually protect not only against hypertension, but against cardiovascular disease, strokes, and other degenerative diseases as well.
Potassium has been studied in connection with the following health conditions:
Kidney stones (citrate in combination with magnesium citrate)
High blood pressure (for people not taking potassium-sparing diuretics)
Potassium Deficiency
It has been suggested that “primitive” diets provide much higher levels of potassium than the contemporary diets consumed today, which may possibly supply too little. Nevertheless, except in cases where “potassium-depleting” diuretic drugs are used, or when an individual experiences excessive diarrhea or vomiting, gross deficiencies are unlikely to occur. If any of these conditions do arise, a doctor may advise supplementation of potassium. The amount of potassium sold in a prescription preparation is greater than the amount sold over the counter; however, even prescription potassium supplements do not contain levels higher than those present in several pieces of fruit.
Dosage and Administration
Eating several pieces of fruit and an ample amount of vegetables each day provides the greatest source of added potassium. Generally, dietary amounts of potassium range from approximately 2.5 – 5.8 grams per day. Just one banana can contain 500 mg of potassium. All things considered, the allowable amount of potassium in supplement form (99 mg per capsule) is extremely low. Even so, attempting to increase potassium consumption by ingesting a large quantity of potassium-containing pills can cause stomach irritation and should not be attempted.
by the Harvard School of Public Health
It has been asked by millions of people “If you eat a healthy diet, do you need to take vitamins?” Not very long ago, the common answer from most experts and professionals would have been an emphatic "no". However, today there's quite a bit of evidence that taking a daily multivitamin makes good sense for most adults.
by the Mayoclinic Staff
Given the popularity and availability of “high potency” amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes and herbs, it might seem like dietary supplements could replace food as a source of the nutrients the body requires. However, this is not the case.
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