What does potasium do??

[rrrr]

I have no idea why we need it and what its function is. Can anyone help?

 

[obiwan9962]

potassium is an electrolyte
necessary for proper body functions
the two main are sodium and potassium
and a balance is required for the body to work optimally
when sodium is high you can occur hypertension/high blood pressure and muscle craps
i take one small tab 50 mg daily to offset the fact that i use alot of soy sauce in my daily diet

 

[Lao Tzu]

you need it for nerves to function.

 

[ProtienFiend]

optimally potassium and sodium should be in a 4:1 ratio... too bad the typical american diet's ratio is more like 1:20 in favor of sodium...

effects on the body, simply:
sodium will retain subcutaneous water.
potassium retains intramuscular water.

 

[bran987]

optimally potassium and sodium should be in a 4:1 ratio... too bad the typical american diet's ratio is more like 1:20 in favor of sodium...

effects on the body, simply:
sodium will retain subcutaneous water.
potassium retains intramuscular water.

can we use a gram for gram measure on those ratios?

in other words, if I eat 100 grams of sodium per day, are you saying I should intake 400 grams of potassium?

 

[ProtienFiend]

can we use a gram for gram measure on those ratios?

in other words, if I eat 100 grams of sodium per day, are you saying I should intake 400 grams of potassium?

yes, if you were to eat 100grams of sodium

 

[bran987]

I am trying to find an article which I read that states your body naturally stores more potassium when you increase sodium intake, but I can't find it.

Are you aware of this mechanism at all?

Here's something interesting:

http://www.nwkidney.org/images/website/docs/nutrition/potassiumsodiumguide.htm

 

[mystic_man]

Potassium is needed to regulate water balance, levels of acidity, blood pressure, and neuromuscular function. This mineral also plays a critical role in the transmission of electrical impulses in the heart. People with low blood levels of potassium who are undergoing heart surgery are at an increased risk of developing heart arrhythmias and an increased need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Potassium is also required for carbohydrate and protein metabolism.

 

[SubjectiveIllusion]

i take one small tab 50 mg daily to offset the fact that i use alot of soy sauce in my daily diet

I would think that potassium is much easier and less expensive to get in food form.

Heres my reason: 1 cup of skim milk has 400mg of potassium. I'm not going to do the calculations but I think drinking 1/8 a glass of milk (50mg potassium) would cost much less then to consume potassium by pill form.

And would that low an amount make any difference anyways? I hear the US RDA for sodium is 2,400 milligrams.

Just a thought.

 

[ProtienFiend]

I am trying to find an article which I read that states your body naturally stores more potassium when you increase sodium intake, but I can't find it.

Are you aware of this mechanism at all?

Here's something interesting:

http://www.nwkidney.org/images/website/docs/nutrition/potassiumsodiumguide.htm

Yes, its the main electrolyte balancing process in the body... they do (for the most part) correspond to one another.