Why Is Potassium Important for You?
By Omer Rashid
Bring the "K" from your keypad to your dining table because we're going to talk about the ever so famous ... potassium! We vaguely remember it from our science class, or maybe you saw an ad on TV that was keen on telling you how their product includes potassium. Regardless, it is a highly beneficial and potent nutrient that can amplify your body's potential by providing you with lasting energy. The sources of potassium are easy to come by, but there is still a rampant lack of awareness regarding the nutrient. Where can I get it? Is it safe? Why is it even necessary?
Which Foods Contain Potassium
Let's talk about the sources first. The most common source that almost all of us have heard of is the trusty banana. You can't go wrong with this oddly classified berry. Bananas are densely packed with potassium and can help you quickly gain energy. Needless to say, they are used religiously by people who are into bodybuilding or even general workouts. Next, we have the Christian Bale of foods, our handy dandy potato. We're aware of the delicious fries, mashes, tenders, and whatnot. However, potatoes are a rich source of potassium and can fill in your daily potassium requirements in a jiffy. Besides your standard veggies and fruits, dried nuts can also add a crunchy twist to your potassium intake. Studies have concluded that some dried nuts such as raisins, prunes, and dates contain substantial amounts of potassium.
The Top Benefits of Potassium for Your Body
A healthy lifestyle requires your body to be in optimal health and that almost entirely depends on what you consume. A balanced diet and nutritious food mantra is not solely about giving up on junk food. It requires an active effort to maintain a steady balance of all the elements that your body requires. One such element is potassium, responsible for a lot of actions that keep you moving. For all the reasons that you will read down below, a balanced potassium intake is crucial for your body.
Potassium often co-works with sodium and calcium to achieve a healthy balance of minerals in the body and therefore, has greater importance as compared to the other two minerals.
Without flooding you with medical terms, here is a starter pack about potassium.
- Potassium is essential in nerve conduction -- the movement of nerve impulses from one neuron to another neuron.
- Potassium helps produce muscle contractions and heart contractions.
- Potassium helps maintain the electrolyte balance against sodium in body fluids.
- An uneven electrolyte balance can upset water volume in the cells and may cause them to swell up or shrink. Hence, potassium also protects cells from contracting or bursting.
- Potassium also assists in reducing blood pressure and is a common supplement advised by medical officers for high blood pressure.
- Potassium also helps decrease water retention in the body that might be harmful and excessive.
- Potassium also reduces the possibility of a stroke, especially among the elderly.
- Potassium also helps in decreasing the probability of osteoporosis, the aging of bones.
- Potassium also works against reducing calcium levels in urine that often form kidney stones.
- Potassium assists in the synthesis of protein and the metabolism of carbohydrates.
So all you need to do now is to remember the foods that are rich in potassium and incorporate a reasonable quantity of them in your diet.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Richmond, Va.