Subject: Potassium/Sodium Balances- Edema & HBP

[Guest guest]

Potassium/Sodium Balances- Edema

 

 

 

Our cells contain more potassium than any other mineral.

A total of approximately 250 mgs of this nutrient can be found in

the adult body.

 

FUNCTIONS AND USES

 

A growing body of evidence indicates that low levels of potassium

are associated with high blood pressure and therefore deserve more

attention!

 

This association may be especially strong when the sodium to

potassium ratio is high.

 

Some researchers feel that in some cases, low potassium may play a

more significant role in hypertension than high sodium does.

 

In several studies, for instance, potassium supplementation

significantly lowered blood pressure without excessive sodium

restriction.

 

As some researchers have pointed out, diets restricted in calories

and cholesterol are often recommended to people with cardiovascular

disease.

It is unfortunate that such diets also tend to reduce nutrients such

as calcium and potassium, which may be essential for maintaining

blood pressure.

 

Potassium may prove to be of value to the cardiovascular system in

other ways as well. In one animal study, rats were given stroke-

inducing diets.

The group that was supplemented with potassium suffered a 2 percent

rate of fatal strokes, as compared with the 83 percent rate of the

unsupplemented group.

 

In another animal study,potassium supplementation was able to

protect against the kidney damage resulting from hypertension.

 

Other Uses

 

Potassium is essential for maintaining the *fluid* balance in our

cells, and is required for the enzymatic reactions taking place

within them.

Potassium is used to convert Glucose into Glycogen for storage and

later release.

It is also used for nerve transmission, muscle contraction, hormone

secretion and other functions.

 

RDIs and DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

 

Potassium deficiency symptoms include edema, nausea, vomiting, which

canlead to further potassium losses, listlessness, feelings of

apprehension, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, and cramps,

tachycardia, (rapid heartbeat) and in extreme cases, heart failure!

 

There is no Reference Daily Intake for potassium, but it has been

estimated that the average American Diet contains from 2 to 6 grams

per day.

 

Potassium deficiency can result from severe malnutrition,

alcoholism, anorexia nervosa, vomiting or diarrhea or from illnesses

that seriously interfere with appetite.

Potassium may be depleted following severe tissue injury due to

surgery, or burns, and during prolonged fevers.

The excessive use of steroids, laxatives, and some diuretics also

encourages potassium loss.

If a person already has heart disease, low potassium can worsen the

picture!

 

In the body potassium must exist in *balance* with sodium.

 

Although sodium may be an important dietary determinant of blood

pressure,

variations in the potassium to sodium ratio in the diet

affect blood pressure under certain circumstances.

So when considering potassium levels, we must consider sodium levels

as well and watch out for high sodium foods, including canned goods,

luncheon meats, sausages, and frozen foods.

 

Food Sources:

 

Potassium is found in a wide range of foods.

Organic meat and cold-water fish are good sources. Legumes, fruits,

vegetables,and organic whole grains are also respectable sources.

 

People who are taking diuretics for the treatment of high blood

pressure are frequently advised to eat fruits such as bananas,

oranges and organic tomatoes for their potassium content.

 

However, the amount of potassium in these foods is

minimal compared with the amount excreted in urine as a result of

diuretic use!

 

It would take an enormous amount of bananas per day to provide the

recommended amount of potassium for a patient taking diuretics!

 

Many physicians often prescribe high-dose potassium supplements for

these patients. However it is doubtful that the potassium is

sufficiently replaced even then,

considering the amounts that are

flushed on out of the body with these powerful drugs!

 

Bear in mind, too, that potassium is lost through cooking, although

the amount of potassium lost varies according to the cooking method

used.

 

A boiled potato may have lost up to 50 percent of its original

potassium content.

 

A steamed potato, only 3 to 6 percent.

 

 

 

Potassium to Sodium Ratio

 

A one-year study headed by James C. Smith, Jr., Ph. D. A chemist at

the

USDA's Agriculture Research service found that the 28 men and women

in their study ate too much table salt (sodium chloride) and not

enough

potassium, exceeding the safe and adequate daily ratio recommended

by the National academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.

 

The optimal ratio is 600 mgs of sodium for 1,000 mgs of potassium.

 

The adults in this study were consuming 1,300 mg of sodium daily for

every 1,000 mgs of potassium.

 

 

 

Recommended Range-

 

As a matter of general information, a teaspoon of refined table salt

contains

about 2,500 mgs of sodium.

 

The recommended range of potassium is between 1,900 mgs and 5,600

mgs daily.

 

Vitamin and mineral supplements, by FDA regulation, are only allowed

to contain 99 mgs of potassium. To take a higher amount you need a

prescription.

How silly this seems when a medium-sized banana contains

approximately

630 mgs of potassium.

 

When people consume a high level of potassium in their diets, they

excrete more sodium in their urine.

But when the opposite is true, and they consume more sodium than

potassium, they may retain excess sodium in " fluids " surrounding

cells in the body resulting in edema.

Urinalysis can determine if your potassium and sodium intakes are

out

of balance, and if either is too high or low.

 

 

 

The Best Natural Sources of Potassium are:

 

One cup organic potato……………..1,747 mg

One cup organic baked squash……..1,200 mg

One cup almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts or peanuts…..780 to 1,000 mg

Half a cantaloupe…………………….885 mgs

3-4 ounces of raw spinach……………780 mg

1 banana………………………………630 mgs

1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses……585 mgs

Half cup of wheat germ………………535 mgs

Half an avocado………………………385 mgs

Medium orange………………………365 mgs.

 

These natural foods can provide valuable protection against strokes

and edema.

Best of all, these are readily available foods, and are easy to

prepare and eat.

 

Monitor your Potassium levels-

 

 

If you are using diuretics (herbal or otherwise) or are on blood

pressure medication, you may need a physician's prescription for

extra

potassium. It would be wise to have your potassium blood levels

monitored regularly. Remember, when potassium is lost by a diuretic,

so is *magnesium*.

You may need to supplement with this essential mineral as well.

 

 

SUPPLEMENTS-

 

Potassium is available in tablet and liquid form.

 

OPTIMUM DAILY INTAKE- ODI-

 

Since potassium is so widely available in fresh foods, most people

do not require a potassium supplement.

 

Rather, most people should be advised to reduce sodium intake so

that a sodium-to-potassium ratio of 1 to 1 is achieved!

 

If however, you wish to take a supplement, the Optimum Daily Intake

of potassium is: 99-300 mgs for men and women.

Your physician may suggest higher levels of potassium if you are

taking certain diuretics, or if you are trying to lower your blood

pressure.

 

Potassium toxicity is seen when daily intakes exceed 18 grams, an

amount that is unlikely to be ingested through foods.

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Botanicals.html