Importance| function| advantages | of potassium in our body
Introduction:
Potassium is very important element in our body. It is required for proper body functioning as well as proper cell functioning. It work with magnesium and perform a lot of important function of body. It is required for nervous system. In this article I will discuss about, why potassium is important in our body, Sources of Potassium, Recommendation of potassium, Deficiency of Potassium and Supplementation. This article will focus only on the nutritional and health related uses of potassium instead of commercial and industrial uses of potassium. If you want to know Importance of minerals in our body, then click on this link and visit our article:
Why potassium is important in our body?
Potassium is an essential element for our body. It has ability to conduct electricity, because it produces positive charge in water. That is responsible for many functions in body. It is also significant for the basic cellular functioning. It is used to treat many diseases, e.g. Kidney stone. Some other most important functions of potassium are given below:
Osmolality (Fluid Balance):
Potassium can easily dissolve in water, it is also present in water as a electrolyte. Inner and outer movement of water in cell is due to osmolality. So, potassium is also used as electrolyte and involve in osmolality.
There are two types of fluid in cell:
Intra cellular fluid: Fluid inside the cell
Extra cellular fluid: Fluid outside the cell
So regulation is very important between both phases.
Treatment of Hypertension:
As we know that sodium is responsible for hypertension, but potassium works against the sodium. Potassium is used to control blood pressure. It reduces the problem of hypertension. If you want to know more about Hypertension, and then click on this link and visit our article about Hypertension:
Role of potassium in brain functioning:
As we know that potassium is act as an ion in body, just as sodium in body. So it helps in the transformation of nerve impulses. It has ability to generate nerve impulses.
Involved in muscle contraction:
Potassium is also used for contraction and relaxation of muscles. That reduces cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis, because potassium has connection with nerves system so it controls heartbeat.
Potassium is also responsible for the bone and muscle maintenance, because it produces acidic environment in body.
Treatment of Kidney Stone:
Potassium is also used to treat kidney stone. As we know that kidney stone is calcium. Potassium will lower the amount of calcium and produce concentrated urine. So, it reduces the risk of kidney stone. Potassium is recommended in kidney stone.
Sources of Potassium:
Potassium is found widely in fruits and vegetables. It is also found in meat especially Fish meat. It is most common in leafy vegetables. Actually we should always get micronutrients from food instead of supplements. Some important foods rich in potassium are given below:
Potatoes
Beans
Leafy green vegetables
Tomatoes
Spinach
Avocado
Bananas
Yams
Recommendation of potassium:
Recommendation for potassium is vary according to age. So, daily dose for potassium is given below:
Infant dose:
In infant almost 3000 mg potassium should be included in diet.
Child dose:
In child 3800 mg per day is recommendation of potassium.
Dose for Adults
4700 mg potassium is recommended for adult women and men.
Dose of Old adults
Amount of potassium is varying according to specific condition in old adult age.
Dose in pregnancy
In pregnancy amount of potassium increase it should be more than 2000 mg per day
Deficiency of Potassium:
After discussing we can say that potassium is very important for body. So, its deficiency causes many diseases. Some most common deficiencies caused by deficiency of potassium are given below:
Hypokalemia:
It is group of diseases due to the deficiency of potassium.
Fatigue and weakness:
It is also a common symptom of low potassium.
Constipation:
Sometimes Constipation caused, due to the deficiency of electrolytes. As we know that potassium also acts as electrolyte with water and conduct electricity.
We should use supplementation on the recommendation of dietician. Otherwise we should healthy potash rich foods.
Conclusion:
At the end in the light of above discussion we can say that potassium is very important component in our body. And perform a lot of functions.
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