05/04/2023
Hey friends, let's talk about the amazing benefits of potassium, one of the essential mineral micronutrients that our body needs to function properly! Also known as electrolytes, Potassium, paired with sodium make two of the most prevalent minerals in the human body, to the point that pretty much every cell in your body has what are called sodium-potassium pumps. Back to talking shop, potassium is super important for regulating blood pressure through relaxing blood vessel walls and therefore reducing the strain on the heart. As part of this process, potassium also balances out our sodium levels, and what you might not know is that the main reason behind high blood pressure in many adults over 45 is not high sodium, but low potassium. Let me say this again. Low potassium has been shown to be responsible for the high blood pressure - high sodium correlation in many adults and elders.
Personally, I'm a huge advocate for getting your nutrients from whole foods whenever possible, and potassium can be found in a wide variety of foods including fruits, veggies, dairy products and meats. But let's face it, on one hand our food supply isn't what it used to be, and even when we're eating a healthy diet, we might still be missing out on some important micronutrients, and on the other hand we purposefully add extra sodium to the things we eat.
That's why I'm all for cautiously supplementing and experimenting to see how your body responds.
For me, supplementing with potassium chloride in water on some days has been an eye opening experience. I first started adding sodium and potassium to water in calculated amounts during longer fasts, to help stay hydrated. What I noticed was that I urinated more often, but I also had more steady energy levels throughout the day and was able to work, do 11 massages a day and also train without eating food for up to five days (my longest fast to date), all of this while having no bad symptoms.
Of course, it's always important to pay attention to your own body and listen to the signals it gives you. I recently started using less potassium chloride than usual, so I could experiment with the effects of lower amounts. I've been using only about 500mg of potassium chloride salt in a two-litre bottle, instead of the full 1000mg contained in the sachets I have, and I've noticed some interesting differences, like getting rid of the extra urination.
As a conclusion, always try to use the minimum amount of any supplement, and make the most out of the least.
So there you have it, friends. Potassium is an essential mineral micronutrient that can help regulate blood pressure, balance out sodium levels, and support overall health. And by paying attention to your body and experimenting with caution, you might just find that a little potassium supplementation can go a long way in helping you feel your best!