Potassium is one of the essential electrolytes for the proper functioning of the human body; in fact, virtually all bodily functions depend on it in some way.
It is also one of the most abundant minerals in the body, since it constitutes 70% of the intracellular positive ions; the rest are a mixture of sodium, magnesiumcalcium, arginine and others.
Potassium is distributed to cells by a process of passive diffusion and is regulated by an enzyme called adenosine triphosphatase along with the sodium concentration inside the cell. Potassium and sodium are antagonists, which means that an imbalance in one automatically causes an imbalance in the other. Potassium predominates inside the cell.
Potassium is necessary for normal cellular respiration. Its deficiency decreases oxygen levels, which reduces the efficiency of cell function. An adequate supply of potassium is also required to regulate the heartbeat, facilitate normal muscle contraction, balance the transfer of nutrients to cells, and stabilize kidney function and gastric juice secretion, among other things.
In the body, one of the most important uses of potassium is nerve transmission, since it is a catalytic cofactor for the activation of various enzymatic systems -although only minimal amounts are needed for these processes- so a deficiency in this aspect is very unlikely.
Potassium is believed to be useful therapeutically in many ways, including helping to treat alcoholism, acne, allergies, promoting the healing of burns, and preventing high blood pressure. It may also be useful in the treatment of congestive heart failure, chronic fatigue syndrome, and kidney stones. People with any of these disorders should consider increasing their potassium intake after discussing it with a professional.
Potassium deficiency symptoms Potassium deficiency in the blood is called hypokalemia and manifests itself in many ways; They stand out among the most serious: osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, coronary disease, cerebrovascular accident, cancer and even infertility, since potassium is a vital element of seminal fluid.
Potassium deficiency increases acid levels in the body, lowering the natural pH, which has long-term effects. It can also aggravate problems caused by a lack of protein. If potassium levels are low, the liver cannot function normally, especially with regard to the transformation of glucose into glycogen. A healthy liver should have twice as much potassium as sodium.
Potassium deficiency causes problems with the formation of connective tissue and can make body tissues vulnerable to all sorts of problems. He collagen of a healthy person is about as strong as steel, and the strength of bone tissue is comparable to that of iron. The lack of potassium causes a susceptibility to fractures, non-healing skin lesions and other connective tissue problems. So important is potassium for the production of collagen that many natural health experts claim that, along with other vital nutrients, it is an essential element of protection against aging.
He potassium it is basic for the effective processing of food in the body; without it they cannot be broken down into their components. This can lead to rheumatism, and is one of the reasons why adequate potassium intake prevents rheumatism.
Potassium Requirements In the past, potassium was more abundant in the diet than salt, but gradually the situation has reversed. The widespread lack of potassium in modern diets is due in large part to modern processing and the high levels of salt added to most processed foods. Cooking and processing destroy potassium, and added salt subsequently decreases potassium in the body. This change from traditional cooking is probably the cause of many health problems facing modern society.
Who can suffer from low potassium People who may have low potassium are those who abuse alcohol or drugs, smokers, athletes, workers whose occupation involves physical exertion, patients who have undergone surgery on the gastrointestinal tract, people who suffer from any degree of malabsorption, and vegetarians. .
Those with eating disorders, especially bulimia and anorexia, are at especially high risk of injury due to low potassium levels. In addition, those who have been ill, undergone surgery and are taking corticosteroids or digitalis, as well as those who are under significant stress, most likely will have low potassium levels.
folk remedies
Remedy for low potassium #1: Consume avocado daily in salads.
Remedy for low potassium #2: Eat a banana or plantain smoothie 4 times a week or eat this fruit daily.
Remedy for low potassium #3: Add to the diet the consumption of sardines 3 times a week.
Remedy for low potassium # 4: Prepare a smoothie that contains milk and any of these nuts such as almonds, peanuts or peanuts, walnuts, among others.
Remedy for low potassium # 5: Consume citrus fruits such as orange, grapefruit, among others daily.
Remedy for low potassium # 6: Eating salads containing spinach, potatoes and tomato.
Remedy for low potassium # 7: Drink guava and kiwi juice 3 times a week.
recommendations
Do not boil food in water, as it is a safe way to remove the potassium it contains, unless the water is used to make soup. Steamed or grilled, cooked foods retain their potassium content and all nutrients, except vitamin C and some B vitamins, which are destroyed by heat.
Grilling also oxidizes essential fatty acids. Sautéing food is another good way to preserve nutrients. It is important to vary potassium-rich foods to ensure adequate intake of other nutrients and to avoid the possibility of toxicity, as some vegetables contain toxic elements if eaten in large amounts (for example, oxalic acid in rhubarb). Freezing also lowers potassium levels in food.
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