The Importance of Foods High in Potassium

Potassium is a mineral your body needs to properly execute certain functions at the cellular level as well as for those that are termed as 'electrical functions' within your body. While potassium is considered a mineral it is also a primary electrolyte your body utilizes in intracellular fluids. Regulating blood pressure as well as acid and base levels, transmitting nerve impulses, metabolizing proteins and carbohydrates, building muscle tissue and assisting with the heart's beating are all important body processes that require potassium. This vital electrolyte also plays a role in balancing water levels and ensuring the health of your brain and nervous system. For this reason foods high in potassium are an important part of your diet.

Typically speaking, you need to be sure to get the recommended daily amount of potassium into your diet. All adults, including pregnant women, need roughly 2,000 milligrams daily. Children require only around 1,600 milligrams each day and infants should intake no more than to 700 milligrams daily.

A well balanced diet will provide you with plenty of potassium. Bananas, raisins, currants and apricots will feed your sweet tooth and provide a good amount of potassium. Veggies like tomatoes, broccoli, soya beans, lima beans, potatoes with the skin and spinach are good sources of the mineral. As for meats and fish, veal, cod, flounder, salmon and sardines are excellent choices.

If you are wondering what will happen without sufficient potassium in your system, the answer is simple. It is not typical for this to occur with Americans. If you are on certain medications it can happen though. Athletes are more prone to a deficiency as well due to profuse sweating and potential dehydration. Muscle cramping, headaches, vomiting or diarrhea can result.

It is good to seek out foods that are high in potassium but still low in sodium as sodium causes water retention. As much as five extra pounds can be packed on due to high sodium intake while trying to fulfill your potassium requirements. Eating veggies and fruits with the skin in tact is a good way to get the most benefit from potassium rich foods.

A list of high in potassium foods can help you whether you need to lower high potassium levels or you want to increase potassium health benefits.

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