The high potassium diet is a recommended dietary pattern for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. High intakes of potassium-rich foods are linked to reduced blood pressure, reduced risk of stroke, and reduced incidence of coronary heart disease.
This is what your high potassium diet should consist of:
Avocados, bananas, broccoli, brown rice, cabbage, cantaloupe melon, cauliflower, cottage cheese (aspartame free), dates, edamame beans (sold as soybeans), fruits and vegetables containing potassium including spinach and watermelon.
Try adding more potassium to your diet. High potassium levels can reduce blood pressure and levels of unhealthy “bad” cholesterol, as well as help regulate the heart’s rhythm and blood flow. You don’t need a prescription or years of medical education to stay healthy; all you need is awareness of this fascinating mineral. Make sure you’re getting enough!
To learn how much potassium you should get, check the article below:
This is the Right Amount of Potassium Per Day!
Benefits of Potassium and High Potassium Diet
Potassium is a chemical element on the periodic table. It has a neutral charge and is considered a non-metal. Potassium is also an essential nutrient of the human diet.
All living organisms need potassium, including humans, more than any other nutrient after water and more than twice as much as phosphorus.
In addition to being important for living organisms, potassium plays an important role in controlling heart rhythm and muscle function along with regulating blood pressure levels of the body. Along with calcium, Potassium controls how quickly neurons can signal at synapses in the brain too.
Here are the benefits of potassium:
1. Potassium increases the amount of oxygen in the blood, which is necessary for energy production in cells.
2. Potassium is used for controlling heart rhythm and muscle function along with regulating blood pressure levels of the body.
3. Potassium has antioxidant properties by neutralizing free radicals to form stable molecules that are less harmful to the body.
4. The kidneys excrete potassium when it becomes too concentrated in the body, which can lead to high blood pressure and other diseases in older adults who already suffer from these risks because they age.
5. Potassium has an important role in making certain hormones like insulin, growth hormone, and adrenal hormones that regulate metabolism and wakefulness, among others.
6. Potassium is involved in the conversion of food to energy by breaking down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into simpler molecules called adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
7. Potassium is needed for the manufacturing of DNA and RNA which are essential for all living things.
What if You Don’t Get Enough Potassium?
Potassium deficiency, more commonly referred to as hypokalemia, is defined as a depletion of potassium levels in the blood serum.
It can be caused by low dietary intake, decreased excretion, impaired renal function, or dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract with loss of potassium through vomiting, diarrhea, or malabsorption.
The word hypokalemia is derived from the Greek words hypo meaning “below” or “low” and kaloria or kaloria meaning “potency”. Potassium deficiency is considered one of the most common electrolyte abnormalities of concern to patients with heart failure who are on chronic heart failure medications.
The first line of treatment for potassium deficiency is the correction of the underlying condition that caused it. Correction also requires that electrolytes be monitored, especially sodium and magnesium, because these may be low as well.
Having low sodium can cause potassium to become depleted. If this occurs, supplementation with potassium salts is needed to correct the hypokalemia caused by low sodium levels.
If you want to learn more about this, check the article below:
11 Nutrient Foods High in Potassium – Thin Line Between Chaos & Order
Conclusion
If you care about your heart health, you should start a high potassium diet.
However, if you think a high potassium diet is not enough, check the potassium supplements below:
Should I Start Taking Potassium Supplements?
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