Don't monkey around with Potassium levels, but enjoy our fellow primate's frequent snack of choice, the banana, because it's a rich and natural source of Potassium, one of 7 crucial macro minerals that exists in every cell of our body, enabling human life overall. While bananas and other fruits and veggies are rich with potassium, (potato, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, avocado and the list continues), it's always best to check potassium levels with a doctor's referral for blood work, and if needed supplement your diet with potassium supplements.
Potassium levels in most processed foods are minimal, and many of these foods are also often high in sodium. Adding a fruit or vegetable rich in potassium can help balance sodium intake, particularly meals that contain heavily processed foods, like crackers, and salted snacks. Like sodium, potassium is commonly found in the form of salt, known as Potassium chloride. Like its partner macro minerals calcium and sodium, potassium too functions as an electrolyte, helping balance our bodily fluids. Research has also shown that the majority of our body's Potassium is found in our muscle tissue. This vital mineral has a profound effect in the transmission of tiny electrical nerve impulses and signals, and when blended with a balanced dosage of sodium, our muscle contractions are stimulated to function healthily.
Cardiovascular health is impacted by excess sodium levels in our bodies, and the media has increased our awareness of the need to monitor sodium intake with a variety of low sodium food alternatives available in today's market. However, ensuring potassium levels are balanced is an equally important factor in our prevention of heart conditions, as potassium's positive side effects include maintenance of healthy blood pressure levels and prevention of cardiovascular disease. A specific study indicated that individuals that consumed 4 times more potassium than other study participants had a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease.
A healthy intake of potassium can benefit our bone mineral density and bone density overall. As mentioned above muscle contraction functions are directly related to our intake of Potassium, and those with a deficiency may suffer from regular weakened muscles, decreased ability to relax muscles and in more severe cases, the onset of rhabdomyolysis, a condition that causes muscle tissue deterioration. It is well known that a diet that is too low in potassium may contribute to cramps in the legs. Certain medications are also known to deplete potassium in the body. Dead Sea Creams can contribute to muscular health by replenishing the body with much needed potassium, thus helping to relieve muscular pain.
What about our skin? Well, potassium can do wonders for the elasticity of our skin as it functions as a shield for skin's collagen retention, keeping our skin flexible and youthful. Lack of potassium can also lead to skin lesions and fractures that heal with greater difficulty. A variety of our Dead Sea skin care products are naturally rich in potassium along with 25 other minerals. What's our takeaway? Speak to a medical professional to ensure your potassium levels are sufficient and/or for insights on a recommended daily dosage.