A Potassium Supplement is Not Usually Required in a Normal Healthy Diet

Of the many minerals our bodies need to operate normally one that is often overlooked is potassium.

The mineral Potassium is critical for the proper healthy operation of all the cells and organs in the body. Another of its properties is that it is one of the four primary electrolytes in the body with the other three being sodium, calcium, and magnesium. Electrolytes are a substance that conducts electrical signals throughout the body.

Potassium is also very important to the normal operation of the heart. And, at least one study suggests a link between bone health and a diet that is rich in potassium.

There are two conditions associated with the amount of Potassium in the body:

Hyperkalemia: This is having too high a level of Potassium in the blood stream. Older individuals have a greater risk than younger because the kidneys become less efficient at eliminating excess potassium from the body as we age.
Hypokalemia: This refers to having too little Potassium in the blood stream. This condition results in weakness, muscle cramping, and a lack of energy and is most often caused by the body losing too much potassium in urine or the intestines.

Maintaining the right balance largely depends on the amounts of sodium and magnesium in the blood stream. Too high a level of sodium, which is typical of western diets high in salt, may very well increase the need for potassium.

Other causes of potassium deficiency include excessive sweating, malnutrition, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Many medications may interfere with the normal levels of potassium and testing to determine any effects should be considered. A very short list includes:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs
ACE inhibitors; this is a class of drugs used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, and other conditions. Frequently someone who is prescribed an ACE inhibitor is also taking a NSAID.
Thiazide diuretics
Antacids
Laxatives

Again, this is but a small part of the list of medications that may impact potassium levels. If you are taking any of these it is a very good idea to be tested for potassium levels.

Most people with a diet rich in vegetables and fruit get all the potassium they require without the need for supplements. The best natural botanical foods with potassium sources are bananas, citrus juices, avocados, cantaloupes, and tomatoes. Other foods with potassium include fish such as cod and flounder, chicken and meat.

An easy and effective way to be sure you have enough potassium in your diet is to add Mila chia seed to your daily diet. Mila Chia seed contains the twice the potassium of bananas and is also provides the highest amount of omega-3 than any botanical source, even more than salmon. Classified by the FDA is a whole, raw food, Mila chia is the best of the cholesterol lowering foods.

Additionally, Mila is rich in other nutrients such as Calcium, Iron, and Selenium, all required for good health.

Visit Mila Healthy Living.com and discover the rest of the story behind this exciting supplement.

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