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Is Potassium Needed?

Potassium is needed for a healthy body and for a healthy mind. It affects every part of our life, yet consume too much and we find ourselves in another kind of trouble. There is a balance we must maintain and your doctor can help you find yours through blood tests.

Why We Can't Find Potassium Levels Listed On Food Packages

The Food and Drug Administration doesn't require food producers to list potassium levels with other listings they do requie. However, both consumer and industry leaders understand there is a need to at least add potassium to food products, especially processed foods. So, lately we have been able to find some processed foods with potassium listed. But remember for processed foods, the potassium levels are pretty much cleaned out of the food.

Can It & Lose It

Potassium is lost from food when canning. National nutritional surveys conducted by the federal government show that milk, white potatoes, coffee, beef, tomatoes, orange juice and grapefruit juice are among the leading sources of potassium in the American diet. But the more varied the diet -- and the less processed food eaten -- the higher the potassium intake.

Potassium Is Excreted Easily

Part of the problem for those with heart disease and other ailments requiring diuretics is that potassium is excreted in our urine. Therefore, most doctors prescribe a potassium supplement with a measurement of 10 ro 20 mEq to replace projected losses. Blood tests are later used to help keep the balance in place.

Potassium Is Excreted Easily

You may find differing levels of potassium recommended, such as 3500 from the government's "average daily requirement," to The National Academy of Sciences estimation that 4,700 milligrams daily is adequate for adults. But healthy men routinely consume only about two-thirds of that, and women get about half, according to a 2004 study cited in a report from the dietary guidelines committee. If you stick to a no salt diet as planned at Megaheart.com, you'll find that you get plenty of potassium if required, and that with many recipes you can cut it way back if ordered to do that also. Patients with kidney failure and other chronic kidney ailments are often told to "get off potassium."

Potassium — Heart Illness

Heart patients (as well as hypertensive and others with such chronic illnesses) may have to guard their intake of potassium especially if they are taking a medication regimine that draws potassium out of their system. If potassium levels get too low or two high, the heart can be damaged even more. Therefore, you may have to monitor your potassium level with regular blood tests and let your doctor guide you from there.

What About Salt Substitutes That Use Potassium Chloride?

We recommend no salt substitutes for a no-salt regimine. Instead we recommend you learn how to cook with spices and other flavorings. If many of us used the potassium chloride used in salt substitutes and some other newer "low sodium" substitutes like Herb-ox boullion, and some new soup mixes, we might just push ourselves over the edge with too much potassium.

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