Taking Potassium Supplements

Potassium is a necessary mineral that helps the kidneys, heart and other organs function properly. Fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium, providing people who eat a healthy diet with plenty of potassium. Unfortunately, many people in the United States don't eat enough fruits and vegetables per day, causing potassium deficiency. Potassium supplements are often recommended by doctor and nutritionists for people who don't have enough potassium in their diet in order to prevent or treat different medical conditions that result from lack of potassium.

Causes of Low Potassium

Aside from eating a diet low in fresh fruits and vegetables, there are several reasons that a person can have low potassium, which can result in the need to take a supplement.

These causes include:

Taking medications, such as diuretics for high blood pressure, that expel potassium from the body at a higher rate than normal.
Being an athlete, which causes potassium loss thorugh sweat
Working at physically demanding job
Having a digestive medical condition, such as Crohn's disease, which limits the abosportion of potassium eaten in food
Smoking
Abusing alcohol or drugs
Having an eating disorder

How the Body Uses Potassium

Though every fluid in the human body contains potassium, the majority of it is located in the cells.

It is a necessary mineral and an electrolyte, which carries a positive electric charge. Potassium is responsible for:

Proper contracting and relaxing of the muscles and nerves

Keeping the heart healthy with a steady, regular heartbeat

Keeping the proper amount of fluid levels and ph balance in the blood

Strong bones, preventing the kidneys from excreting too much calcium that can cause osteoporosis

Preventing kidney stones by excreting excess citrate through the urine

Regulating blood pressure levels

Benefits of Taking Potassium Supplements

When a person is deficient in potassium, an irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, bone problems, muscle cramping, kidney stones and kidney problems may occur. Though doctors recommend eating a healthy diet as the first defense against these problems, if a person can't properly absorb potassium or they expel too much, supplements should be taken to prevent these problems.

A study by St. George's Medical School in London found that taking potassium supplements lowers blood pressure. The study tested adults who had an average blood pressure of 151/93. After taking potassium supplements, participants were able to reduce their blood pressure to an average of

138/88.

Another study looked at the benefits that potassium supplements have on bone health. The study, which was published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, found that those who took a potassium supplement, along with calcium and vitamin D, were able to significantly increase their bone mineral density and microarchieticutre at many sites. Strong bones in seniors may decrease their risk of breaks due to falls.

Current dietary guidelines recommend that people consume 1,600 to 2,000 milligrams of potassium each day. For those who fall short, supplements can help provide necessary nutrient to the body, helping to keep it strong and working properly.