Subject: Potassium/Sodium Balances- Edema &...

[Guest guest]

JoAnn

 

What type of potassium? Gluconate or citrate or either one?

 

 

In a message dated 10/19/2003 8:48:37 PM Pacific Standard Time,

angelprincessjo writes:

 

> 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

>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I ask again. What type of potassium? Gluconate or citrate?

 

 

In a message dated 10/19/2003 7:48:37 PM Pacific Standard Time,

angelprincessjo writes:

 

> Subj: Potassium/Sodium Balances-

> Edema & HBP

> 10/19/2003 7:48:37 PM Pacific Standard Time

> <A

HREF= " angelprincessjo " >angelprincessjo</A>

> Reply-to: <A

HREF= " " >Alternative_Medicine_Fo\

rum </A>

> <A

HREF= " " >Alternative_Medicine_Fo\

rum </A>

> Sent from the Internet

>

>

>

> 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