Quick potassium question

[Dadvatar]

Sorry to lazy to search as this has probably been answered before.

What is the best form of potassium supplements to take and what dose dose people find best to take?

Thanks

[Gambit62 Administrator]

suggest you speak to a pharmacist about supplements

[JanD236]

As far as I’m aware, taking potassium supplements is not advisable (unless under medical supervision).

So that means choosing potassium rich foods, which include

Bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew, apricots, grapefruit

Some dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins and dates

Cooked spinach

Cooked broccoli

Potatoes

Sweet potatoes

Mushrooms

Peas

Cucumbers

Courgettes

Aubergine

Pumpkins

Leafy greens

Coconut water

Sunflower seeds

Plenty to choose from. Some of the above are also high in folate which we also need so win win!

[Foggyme Administrator]

Hi Dadvatar.

Potassium supplements should only ever be taken if there is a proven potassium deficiency and then only under direct medical supervision.

This is because potassium levels are very finely balanced in the body and too much potassium can be extremely dangerous. Too much can cause cardiac arrest. It’s one of the three drugs used in executions. I say this not to frighten you but rather because many people don't realise how dangerous potassium can be (it's certainly not a supplement to take 'just in case' 😉).

If you're worried about your daughter’s potassium levels the best thing to do is to ask her GP to check her potassium levels and they can then prescribe an appropriate dose for supplementation, if needed. If supplements are deemed necessary, they will prescribe a course and will want to re-check her levels to ensure that a) her levels have come up and b) that they are not to high. If levels are found to be low, it's unlikely that anything more than a short course will be needed to right any deficiency.

The best way to ensure that potassium doesn't drop too low is to ensure that she has enough potassium in her diet. Good things are bananas, baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, oranges (and orange juice), tomatoes, tuna, chicken...and many other things too (lots of ideas and information about this on the Internet).

Here's a food nutrient counter (potassium's in the drop down menu) that might help...it will enable you to calculate what the potassium content is in most foods (and adult women needs approximately 3,700mg up to 4,500mg daily). Not sure of your daughter's age so best to look up the RDA for her age).

nutrients.food-nutrients-ca...

You may have read that potassium gets used up quickly with frequent B12 injections. However, this only applies at the start of treatment (the first few days / week) when potassium levels may drop quickly...but this only happens if macrocytic anaemia is present (extra potassium is used in the red blood cell 'repair' process).

Some medications affect potassium levels too (steroids, for instance), and this is managed by eating a potassium rich diet and prescribed potassium supplements, if and when necessary.

Many here benefit from ensuring a good dietary potassium intake.

So...having said all that...best to ask you GP to check her potassium levels....if they're found to be low, your GP can treat appropriately and if not...well at least it will put your mind at rest.

Hope this helps.

Good luck 👍

[Dadvatar in reply to Foggyme]

I’ll have to get the juicer out of the kitchen appliance grave yard.

Juice it is!

[JMN2017]

As Foggyme says, please don't suppliment Potassium without medical supervision and after checking your Potassium levels first, as balance is critical!!!