Potassium is an essential mineral that is important for:
- Blood pressure control
- Kidney health
- Electrolyte balance
- Fluid balance
- Protein metabolism
- Carbohydrate metabolism
- Proper muscle function
- Proper nerve function
How much do you need?
According to the National Academy of Medicine, Adequate Intake (AI) for potassium in healthy adults are as follows:
Non-pregnant women age 19+ 2,600 mg daily
Men 19+ 3,400 mg daily
Potassium Deficiency:
Potassium deficiency is uncommon in normal healthy adults.
Deficiency is more commonly seen in patients with underlying conditions such as:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Chronic diarrhea
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Patients on medications that cause potassium loss such as diuretics
- Those with PICA
- Magnesium deficiency
Symptoms of mild potassium deficiency include:
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle cramps
- Malaise
If potassium is severely low symptoms can present as
- Large volumes of urine
- Paralysis of the muscles
- Heart arrhythmias
- Impairment of the muscles of respiration
Can you have too much potassium?
Dietary intake of potassium does not commonly cause elevated blood potassium levels in healthy adults.
It is possible for healthy adults to develop elevated potassium levels due to supplements.
People at increased risk for elevated potassium levels from dietary intake include:
- Those with impaired kidney function
- Those taking medications such as certain diuretics and blood pressure medications
- Those with type 2 diabetes
- Those with adrenal insufficiency
- Those with liver disease
- Those with congestive heart failure
Symptoms of elevated potassium include:
- Heart palpitations
- Irregular heart rate
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Shortness of breath
Despite an abundance of options for food sources of potassium, it has been reported that most people in the US do not consume enough potassium in their diets.
How can you get enough?
Check out this list of options!
Food sources of potassium:
- Banana
- Apricot
- Acorn squash
- Avocado
- Prunes
- Raisins
- Tomato
- Mushrooms
- Peas
- Cucumbers
- Orange juice
- Tomato juice
- Prune juice
- Coconut water
- Cantaloupe
- Honeydew
- Grapefruit
- Lima beans
- Soy beans
- Pinto beans
- Spinach
- Collard greens
- Lentils
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Whole wheat flour
- Brown rice
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Chicken breast
- Beef
- Tuna
- Salmon
- Halibut
Enjoy!
References:
Institute of Functional Medicine Fact Sheet. Micronutrients: Minerals. Accessed January 2021
National Institutes of Health- Office of Dietary Supplements. Potassium. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Potassium-HealthProfessional/
Harvard Health Publishing. The Importance of Potassium. 2019. Accessed January 2021. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-importance-of-potassium
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The Nutrition Source. Potasium. Accessed January 2021. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/potassium/
All photos used with permission from Snappa.com