Nutritional deficiencies are the backbone of disease, sickness, ailments and pain. If the body is able to form sickness of any kind, any ailment or disease you can bet your bottom dollar that a series of nutritional deficiencies was part of the cause. When the body has what it needs nutritionally it operates much better. It’s like keeping a car running. If you neglect to give a car oil changes, replace filters and keep it clean then the car begins to breakdown.
The same thing happens with our body. Nutrition is the oil and gas, the fuel if you will. Thing is, nutrition is also the signal for organs to work properly and to detoxify. Any buildup or crap within the body that shouldn’t be there will remove itself if the organs responsible for filtration and detoxification can do their job properly.
The Colon, Liver and Kidneys are some of these main organs that are responsible for detoxification. When the body is clean of contaminants and toxins the nutrients can be assimilated and absorbed more easily. Potassium is one of these vital nutrients needed for the body and its systems to operate optimally.
Potassium is an electrolyte that has many important functions in the body. Sodium, magnesium, calcium and chloride are the other main electrolytes in the body. When you hear the word electrolyte think in terms of electricity. Electrolytes help to conduct electricity in the body. Yes, our bodies are electric! As well as chemical.
Potassium plays many roles in the human body and is extremely important for health and vitality. Before we get to the deficiency and how to ensure that you are not deficient, we’re going to discuss why potassium is so important and build the value of this important mineral so that you’re serious about getting it in your diet. We always hear about how important magnesium is and how a large portion of the population is deficient in magnesium but did you know that 68-80% of the US population is deficient in magnesium while a full 98% (almost everyone) is deficient in potassium?
Potassium Plays a Key Role in Heart & Muscle Health
Heart Health:
Studies have found that people with a bad sodium-potassium ratio have a higher risk of heart disease as well as mortality as a whole. Simplified, this means that if you have too much salt (sodium) in your diet and not enough potassium that your electrolyte balance is off and your heart and body health suffer tremendously. Low potassium in the body has also been associated with an irregular heartbeat. This is something I can attest to firsthand. I had an irregular heartbeat for a period of time and after some testing I found out that my potassium levels were way too low.
Studies have found a direct link between low levels of dietary potassium and the associated high blood pressure. Studies have found that by increasing the potassium intake in your diet you directly reduce your risk from dying of a cardiovascular related disease.
Why is this so important? The #1 cause of death in the United States is heart disease. Cancer comes in at #2.
Prevention of Stroke:
A stroke happens when a clot in your blood vessels prevents the flow of blood to your brain. Strokes often result in loss of sensory function, thinking, emotional function and more. Strokes are the 4th leading cause of death in the United States. Three separate studies found that an increased potassium intake reduces the risk of stroke. One of these studies found that women with a higher potassium intake had a 30% less chance of having a stroke. You can read these studies here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4175295/
Bone Health:
Studies have found a positive connection between a higher potassium intake and bone health, especially among elderly women. The study found that eating foods rich in potassium helped prevent osteoporosis. One notable thing to keep in mind here is that for the elderly a fall can be deadly. With weaker bones and muscles a fall can fracture the hip or break an ankle, leg etc. Doing this can be deadly. When an elderly person falls it takes them off their feet which slows the body down dramatically. They aren’t able to walk and walking is what keeps the circulation and body moving. When that stops, death happens sooner.
Fat Loss & Muscular Physique:
Potassium is an essential mineral if you’re working to lose excess fat. It is directly responsible for benefiting the health of the kidneys which are filtration organs. Potassium is also responsible for maintaining the hydration within the cells of the body. The body needs crucial electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium and sodium in a specific ratio in order to bring electricity to the cells, nervous system, heart and muscles. In other words, this gives your body more energy, power and less lethargy so that your body can sculpt a more fit shape!
According to Dr. Michael Greger of Nutrition Facts. Approximately 2% of the American population is sufficient in potassium, meaning 98% of the American population is deficient in Potassium. He shares that every cell in our body requires potassium just to function. The recommended daily intake of potassium is 4,700 MG a day.
Interestingly enough how potassium was discovered and named is quite interesting. Watch this short video to learn how:
Quite interesting huh? When you burn a plant and all that’s left are the ashes. That’s potassium. Essentially, potassium is the only mineral (or thing) left after fire engulfs whatever plant it is. That’s quite incredible. The mineral that survives fire itself! This alone could be an indicator of how important it is.
Symptoms Of Low Potassium Intake Include But Are Not Limited To:
- Feeling Tired
- Weak Muscles/Nerves
- Insomnia (touble falling asleep)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Constipation
- Slow or weak/ irregular heartbeat
- Mentally fatigued easily
As always, the best nutritional sources of potassium are in vegetables and fruits. When it comes to nutritional value of foods from bread, meat or dairy the body has a more difficult time assimilating them. We were mean’t to have a diet rich in vegetables and fruit more than dairy, bread and meat. Always remember that.
Fruits That Contain Potassium:
- Apricot
- Prunes
- Oranges
- Bananas
- Kiwi fruit
- Peaches
Vegetable Sources Of Potassium:
- Squash
- Potato
- Avocado (has more potassium than a banana actually!)
- Banana
- Spinach & Any leafy greens!
- Tomatoes
The lesson is to eat more potassium rich foods. In my research I did come across an interesting point that I think is worth noting. There was a tidbit that said something along the lines of a potassium supplement didn’t make a difference. There was another study that found that a potassium supplement did. It’s all objective. The quality of a potassium supplement is very important and the body can only assimilate something it is familiar with. I recommend getting potassium in your diet by eating more avocado, bananas and leafy greens. It’s really that simple. If you want to ensure that you do get more potassium in your body though I recommend taking a liquid based ionic potassium supplement. This is the potassium supplement that I personally take here! I also highly recommend drinking coconut water more regularly. Coconut water is a really great source of potassium and electrolytes in general. You’ll feel more energy and more mentally clear just from drinking coconut water. It’s one of the only drinks in a gas station or convenience store that is healthy and worth buying.
Watch this to learn more:
Recommended Reading: Top 10 Whole Food Sources Of Potassium
Source: http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/potassium Image: https://pixnio.com/flora-plants/fruits/banana-pictures/bunch-of-ripe-bananas-that-had-been-set-atop-a-kitchen-cutting-board
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