Natural Potassium Supplement: Why is Potassium So Important?
People are always saying that eating bananas is good for you. That's because bananas are
excellent sources of potassium. For those of you who don't like this fruit and are suffering from
low levels of potassium, the next best thing is to take a
natural potassium supplement. That way you do your heart and other vital organs a favor.
Potassium's Role in Health
From the perspective of physiology, an
electrolyte is defined as
an ion
in our cells, in our blood, or in organic material.
Electrolytes
regulate fluid levels in the body and also maintain the body's
pH
balance
. They also play a role in maintaining the correct electric
activity that occurs between nerve cells so that our body is able to
transmit nerve signals properly.
Potassium is an important electrolyte.
Health: Potassium Supplements/Tablets?
People who are
deficient in potassium are advised to take
potassium
tablets
or other forms of
potassium supplements. This is because
increased levels of potassium are good for maintaining a healthy blood
pressure. If you have been diagnosed by your doctor as suffering from
hypertension, eat fruits and vegetables high in potassium. If you can't
obtain potassium from natural foods, your doctor may recommend that you
take a potassium supplement. Comparing results of men who took
potassium supplements with the results of men who did not take any, a
Harvard study reported that the former group
reduced their risks of
having a stroke by 60%
.
With
normal levels of potassium, the body is
able to neutralize acids because they restore alkaline salts in the
bloodstream. Potassium is also known for regulating the amount of
sodium in all cells, restoring membrane potentials, and regulating
metabolic activity. Another
benefit of potassium is that it helps our
cardiovascular and central nervous systems. It transfers nutrients into
cells. In performing these functions, our muscles gain more energy.
Potassium's Other Benefits
Given potassium's benefits, EarthTurns.com felt it important to sell only
American-made
potassium supplements
and
potassium tablets. There is evidence that potassium is an essential electrolyte that the human
body cannot do without.
Consider these other benefits:
- It contributes to our body's healthy water balance and helps us to
recover from illness more quickly
- It relieves arthritic and rheumatic disorders (caused by the build-up
of acids in our joints)
- It facilitates disposal of human waste
- It makes our bodies deal with pain more effectively
- It controls headaches and migraines
- It helps cure wounds, bruises and cuts
- It is a critical component
for wellness.
- For people who train vigorously, potassium helps maintain
energy reserves in muscles
How Does Potassium Work?
Formation of potassium compounds requires the binding of potassium to
something. Given that our bodies cannot efficiently break down
compounds, only a small portion of the potassium we consume is used.
For potassium to do its job, it must be in elemental form. This means
that the potassium molecule has to be easily absorbed by the cells in
our body. This requires it to be inside a water molecule. Potassium
must therefore be soluble in water. The problem, however, is that
water-soluble materials cannot just build up in the body by themselves.
How Much Potassium Do We Need?
As we mentioned earlier, bananas are an excellent source of
potassium. So are orange juice, dates (dried or fresh), and apricots.
Our bodies need 3,500 mg of potassium daily. If you're taking a
potassium supplement or potassium tablet, it
must not contain more than
99 mg
of absorbable potassium. Our
chelated potassium contains 99mg from 595mg of potassium gluconate. If you're taking a multi-vitamin, the potassium content is fine.
Just remember this one important advice: if you're taking a potassium
supplement, don't take more than 99 mg daily. Eat at least five
servings of fruits and vegetables everyday, and if you wish, you can
also take a
multi-vitamin. Taking excessive amounts of potassium can
disrupt your electrolyte balance and significantly affect your heart
condition.
Potassium supplements or tablets are recommended for people
who are on certain
diuretics with no potassium content like Lasix.
Signs of Potassium Deficiency
How do you know you're deficient in potassium?
The answer: when you
frequently have…
- Chronic fatigue
- Insomnia
- Intestinal pain
- Eye sore and eye pain
- Swollen glands
- Bluish skin color
- Painful breathing
- Edema
- Earaches
- Diabetes
- Poor circulation
- Fluid retention
A
lack of potassium also disturbs tissue functioning
and can paralyze muscles, including the heart. To maintain a healthy
balance of body fluids, sodium and potassium must go together.
If You
Need Potassium Supplements or Potassium Tablets
Since potassium is a vital electrolyte for
optimal health and wellness,
choose a potassium supplement that is manufactured with the highest
standards. Many of the potassium supplements that are made in America
are manufactured to the highest standards such as the ones endorsed by
the pharmaceutical industry's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). You
can also ensure that because of the synergy involved in minerals, it is
important that your potassium supplements have been
developed and formulated by reputable scientists whose expertise lie in
this particular field.
Potassium supplements that are not
scientifically tested generally show poor bio-availability – this means
that most of the ingredients used to manufacture the supplement pass
through the body without delivering tangible benefits.
