Potassium

[SARIEE]

Last year I got diagnosed with low potassium levels and they gave me potassium tablets and they made me feel great but it was a very high dose so they took me of them without a blood test, I have bought some online but they don't work any ideas why they worked I was so full of energy and my pains were gone

[humanbean]

You might find this article from Dr Kendrick well worth reading. The comments are worth reading too.

drmalcolmkendrick.org/2013/...

You can buy some forms of potassium supplement in powder form. Although, obviously, you shouldn't overdo potassium (because it affects the heart), buying a powder will give you the freedom to determine your own dose, if this appeals to you.

[Christabel in reply to humanbean]

Very interesting article. I have a friend who is convinced that potassium is very dangerous, and that eating more than three bananas a week will kill you - as in the first comment. The friend is an ex-nurse.

[LAHs]

Get a blood test first to see if you are deficient in potassium. If you are, you could try eating bananas every day. If you start feeling good again then measure your blood level again just to make sure you are not overdoing it and therefore cut down your consumption of bananas. I think potassium is an element best consumed via food, your body will tell you when to stop.

Oh, and btw, bananas are rich in potassium.

[posthinking01 in reply to LAHs]

Hi you are right bananas have 500 mg of potassium but unfortunately we need over 5,000 mg per day.

[LAHs in reply to posthinking01]

Interesting, I didn't know that. I wonder where all of our potassium comes from then? I am not a banana eater nor pistachios for that matter but my potassium is "normal". I guess you get it from fruit - and while I try my hardest to eat fruit, I know I fall short.

[Chicagointhehouse in reply to LAHs]

Pistachios are very high in potassium as well.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Potassium is perhaps not something anyone should supplement without testing and medical guidance

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

Suggest you test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Look for cause of ongoing symptoms

Magnesium levels can be low, especially if vitamin D levels are low

[humanbean in reply to SlowDragon]

In an ideal world people should get sufficient potassium from their diet.

webmd.com/diet/foods-rich-i...

I must admit I do supplement up to 4 x 99mg tablets of potassium gluconate per day, rather than worry about my potassium intake. I occasionally get mild chest pain, and I've discovered that taking a dose of magnesium citrate powder can make it vanish. If it doesn't help then I try the potassium gluconate supplements. And if that doesn't work I'll try a small dose (half my prescribed dose) of a beta blocker. I very rarely need the beta blocker. I don't overdose on any of these things, I take, at most, what it says on the bottle, or on the prescription.

[posthinking01 in reply to SlowDragon]

Totally agree - potassium is a nasty thing to supplement without medical advice and blood tests.

[Gettingoldnow]

Hi .i was high potassium so went on a low potassium diet and now in range.try going on high potassium diet it might help

[humanbean]

Another useful link on potassium :

lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/min...

It points out that taking too much potassium can ulcerate the stomach. Other side effects aren't much fun either.

[LAHs in reply to humanbean]

Wow, that's a fantastic article, everything and more you ever wanted to know about potassium. Thanks for posting.

[humanbean in reply to LAHs]

If you look under the Articles menu option there are links to info on vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. The ones I've read are rather good.

[posthinking01]

Low-potassium fruits:

Apples (plus apple juice and applesauce)

Blackberries.

Blueberries.

Cranberries.

Fruit cocktail.

Grapes and grape juice.

Grapefruit.

Mandarin oranges.

High potassium

White Beans

Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes. White potatoes are not always considered the most nutrient-dense vegetables. ...

Beets. Beets are a deep red root vegetable with a naturally sweet flavor. ...

Parsnips. ...

Spinach. ...

Swiss Chard. ...

Tomato Sauce. ...

Oranges and Orange Juice.

Too much potassium

tiredness or weakness.

a feeling of numbness or tingling.

nausea or vomiting.

trouble breathing.

chest pain.

palpitations or irregular heartbeats.

All nuts contain some potassium, but pistachios have the most. ... After pistachios, you can choose from peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts and chestnuts. They all provide about 4 percent of your recommended daily intake in a 1-ounce serving

Be careful taking potassium supplements as they can cause heart issues and kidney problems

Be careful with walnuts although they contain the valuable selenium for us "thyroiders" - take away from meds same as for iron as they compromise the medication.

medicalmedium.com/blog/food...

Hope this helps