Getting Potassium in Your Diet

Potassium is a mineral especially valuable to your body. It functions as a catalyst in the nervous system, helping the muscles (including mind, heart and kidneys) working at maximum capacity. Without having an adequate amount of potassium in the body, certain side effects would begin to take their toll. Some of these are fatigue, weakness, confusion, heart irregularities, etc. Generally speaking, insufficient levels of potassium decrease the body's ability to function effectively. It becomes tired and weak as a result. So how can we make sure to avoid this condition? Having plenty of potassium rich foods in the diet is the best way to start.

There are lots of foods with vitamins and minerals essential to your body's health, but where does the potassium come from? The following is a short list of foods rich in potassium you will certainly want to consume more frequently: banana, cantaloupe, honeydew, kiwi, lima beans, vegetable juice, milk, potatoes, tomatoes, prunes and squash. There are many, many others as well. Potassium rich foods are everywhere. You just need to know where to look, and why to look. And if you are not the one who does the grocery shopping in your family, make sure that individual starts buying more potassium rich foods.

Nevertheless, having too much or too little potassium in your body can become problematic. Hyperkalemia is a condition that sets in when there is too much potassium in the bloodstream. Usually, hyperkalemia is associated with an underlying medical condition such as diabetes; therefore most do not need to worry about having too much potassium. Talk to a doctor if you have further questions on hyperkalemia. On the other side of the coin, hypokalemia affects those who do not consume enough of those foods rich in potassium. One with hypokalemia will often experience muscle cramps and weakness as well as the occasional heart arrhythmia.

Why is potassium so important? It helps you function on a day-to-day basis. If you have a business meeting, an interview, some boxes to load on and off the truck, or a day chocked full of classes, having enough potassium is key to your success. You will be happier and more comfortable doing your job. Without this important mineral, you will get tired and weak, perhaps forgetting much of what you needed to remember. So grab a banana on your way out the door in the morning, or have some melon ready for breakfast. It is the little things that contribute so heavily to keeping our bodies healthy and strong.

Include potassium rich foods in your diet today for healthy eating. Visit our site today for a list of foods rich in potassium.

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