Potassium is one of the essential mineral required for our body and plays a major role in both cellular and electrical function. It is also considered as electrolyte because it carries a small amount of electric charge.
About 98 percent out of 120 percent of potassium is found in our body cells, the electrolytes in the potassium maintain balance of fluid and other functionalities. It is essential for normal functioning of cells in the body.
Don’t you know decrease in potassium level will also affect normal bodily function and it has been proven by many researchers?
Potassium is extremely important even for the basic functionalities of your body. It is considered as the third most mineral required for the body.
What is the Importance of Potassium?
Potassium is very important for our body, it maintains the fluid balance and acid balance in the blood and tissues. In conducts electricity in the body along with sodium, magnesium, calcium and chloride.
Potassium works beyond the functionalities of sodium. Some of them are as follows:
- It maintains healthy blood pressure.
- It involves biochemical actions and energy metabolism, which participates in the synthesis protein from amino acids in the cell.
- It is used for normal growth and building muscles.
- Potassium balances regular contraction of heart and a healthy nervous system and also strives for electrolyte balance.
- It helps to move nutrients into the cells and waste product to out of cells.
- It also help to regulate the function of calcium and phosphorous in body.
Causes of Potassium Deficiency
We can see many causes of potassium deficiency; one of the main causes is using diuretic medications. It can be controlled by maintaining healthy diet.
Some of the causes of potassium deficiency are as follows:
- Diuretic is a medicine used for getting rid of excess of fluid and helps to remove the strain from body. Excess of urination leads to loss of electrolytes, mainly it leads to loss of potassium.
- Kidney disorders may also lead to decrease in levels of potassium in our body. Whereas kidneys help to remove toxins and excessive fluids from the body, if the kidneys are diagnosed with a disease, it cannot store sufficient potassium and imbalance the electrolyte formation.
- Long term illness that require potassium supplements.
Symptoms of Potassium Deficiency
Symptoms of potassium deficiency are as follows:
- Muscles become weaker and tenderer.
- Paralysis in some cases
- Tingling sensation and numbness
- Heart palpitation
- Feeling thirsty and frequent urination
- Dizziness
- Bloating or cramps in abdomen
- Low blood pressure
- Muscle cramps, depression, confusion and hallucination
Treatment for Potassium Deficiency
The treatment of potassium deficiency starts by identifying the cause of the problem.
- Your doctor may suggest you small doses of potassium supplements to maintain required amount of potassium in your body.
- Keep on supplying your body with enough fluids.
- Consume lots of potassium enriched foods.
- Make no delay in treating diarrhea and vomiting, treatment in the right time will help you make sure of no further loss of potassium.
Consult your doctor before using medications and following diet.
Best Foods That Increase Your Potassium Levels
The following are the foods which are recommended to include in your diet to increase the levels of potassium in your body.
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Lentils
- Spinach
- Beet greens
- Avocadoes
- Papaya
- Banana
- Tomato
- Nuts and Brazil nuts