Utilizing Potassium for a Healthy Heart

Potassium or potassium is one of the important minerals needed by our body. With the right potassium intake, many diseases become reluctant to land on the body. Check out the various benefits of potassium for health. Potassium is included as one type of electrolyte needed by the body to maintain fluid balance in the body. Potassium also plays a role in breaking down and utilizing carbohydrates, building protein, building muscles, maintaining normal body growth, and controlling the body's acid-base balance and electrical activity in the nerves and heart. In fact, thanks to this mineral, also known as potassium, the heart, kidneys and other organs can function normally. In addition to these benefits, potassium is also very useful in preventing various diseases including heart disease, blood vessels, and stroke.

Food Source Postasium

You can get the benefits of potassium by consuming its sources, such as bananas, milk, fish, shellfish, beef, chicken, turkey, bread, potatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, soybeans, kidney beans, almonds, apricots, oranges broccoli, kiwi, pineapple, carrots, green leafy vegetables, whole wheat, avocados, beets, mushrooms, yogurt, pears, mangoes, pistachios, raisins, and grapes. But be careful, do not overdo it or lack in consuming potassium. The World Health Organization or WHO recommends taking at least 3,500 to 4,500 mg of potassium daily. If excessive, can trigger an abnormal heart rate, deteriorated kidney function, and severe infections. While lack of potassium can cause muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, or kidney disorders.

Benefits of Potassium for Health

The following are the benefits of potassium (potassium) for health:

• High blood pressure

Potassium in supplement form is thought to reduce blood pressure, especially for those who consume foods with high salt content. In fact, eating potassium foods is also thought to help prevent high blood pressure.

• Heart disease

One study revealed that consuming 4,000 mg of potassium per day can reduce the risk of death from heart disease. Hypokalemia, where sufferers lack potassium content in their bodies, is thought to play a role in the occurrence of deaths from arrhythmias. The risk of death from arrhythmia will be higher in people who have had heart problems before. Eating potassium-rich foods every day is also very important to maintain a stable heart rate and reduce the risk of heart problems.

• Stroke

Eating foods that contain potassium is useful in helping to reduce the risk of stroke, especially ischemic stroke (stroke due to blood clots that clog arteries). As long as it is accompanied by reducing the intake of salt (sodium / sodium), saturated fat, and cholesterol.

• Bone health

Studies show that consuming foods rich in potassium is thought to prevent osteoporosis, especially among older women. Potassium is also thought to be beneficial for increasing bone density and reducing the removal of calcium through urine. However, further research is still needed to support this statement.

• Inflammation of the digestive tract

In the body of inflammation sufferers of the digestive tract, nutrients are often difficult to absorb. This is because of the symptoms of diarrhea or vomiting. Doctors will also likely check the potassium levels in the body and recommend eating potassium foods.

• Kidney stones

Eating foods containing potassium is thought to reduce calcium levels in the urine. Excessive levels of calcium in the urine are the most common cause of calcium kidney stone disease.

Potassium is indeed important for the body, but don't forget to keep the intake of other nutrients in order to stay balanced and provide maximum benefits for the body. Do not hesitate to see a nutritionist about the benefits of potassium and how to get it optimally.