Functions of Potassium

Potassium is an dietary mineral that is also known as an electrolyte, essential to both cellular and electrical function.

Intracellular fluid contains about 95 percent of the body’s potassium, with the highest amount in skeletal muscle cells.

The flow of sodium and potassium in and out of cells is an important component of muscle contractions and the transmission of nerve impulses.

The central nervous system (CNS) zealously protects it potassium – CNS potassium levels remain constant even in the face of falling levels in the muscle and blood.

Potassium also helps regulate blood pressure.

Potassium influences the contractility of smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscle and profoundly affects the excitability of nerve tissue.

It is also plays a critical role in the transmission of electrical impulses in the heart.

It is also important in maintaining electrolyte and pH balance.

Potassium deficiency, also called hypokalemia, established the importance of potassium maintenance in cardiovascular disease.

There is also suggestion that increasing potassium intake may be key in lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of stroke, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias.
Functions of Potassium

Minerals that Lower Blood Pressure

Minerals that Lower Blood Pressure
Studies have shown that nutritional supplementation, particularly with potassium, calcium and magnesium (non-chloride salts), along with antioxidants and zinc, can help reduce hypertension.

Sodium and Potassium
In order to reduce blood pressure sodium intake must be restricted while potassium intake is increased.

Individuals with high blood pressure should be aware of hidden salt in processed foods.

Although their salt intake is comparable, vegetarian generally have less hypertension and cardiovascular than non-vegetarian because their diet contain more potassium, complex carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fat, fiber, calcium, magnesium and vitamin A and C.

According to expert, regular consumption of potassium-rich-fruits such as avocadoes, bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, grapefruit, nectarine, orange and vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, green peas, potatoes and squash can lower high blood pressure.

Steaming rather than boiling vegetables helps prevent vital nutrient loss.

Calcium
Calcium has been shown to lower blood pressure in hypertensive.

Because many with high blood pressure have a lower daily calcium intake than people with normal blood pressure, calcium rich foods, including nits and leafy green vegetables such as watercress and kale, should also supplement the diet.

A recent analysis of the research on calcium and hypertension shows that either increasing calcium in the diet or using calcium supplements will usually have a positive effect in systolic blood pressure.

Magnesium
In one study, magnesium supplementation lowered blood pressure in 19 of 20 hypertensive. Dietary magnesium is found in nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans), rice, bananas, potatoes, wheat germ, kidney and lima beans soy products and molasses.

Antioxidants and Zinc
Research has found that antioxidants are linked to an increase in nitric oxide activity.

Nitric oxide helps open blood vessels which in turn may help lower blood pressure.

Zinc may helpful because it activates superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme.
Minerals that Lower Blood Pressure

Potassium Role in Blood Pressure

Potassium Role in Blood Pressure
The role of potassium in lowering blood pressure has received less attention until recently.

International comparisons of blood pressure and potassium intake, have shown that a higher potassium intake appears to be associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension.

It is also probable that a low potassium intake has an independent effect on stroke mortality, which is separate from the effect of blood pressure.

Sodium and potassium cannot easily be considered separately, and when assessing their effects, potassium it is probably best to examine dietary or urinary sodium/potassium ratios.

It is interesting to note that in the USA, where hypertension is common in blacks, there are virtually no differences in sodium intake or urinary sodium excretion between blacks and whites but there are marked differences in potassium intake and excretion.

Black people tend to consume lower quantities of potassium rich foods which are usually of high quality and expensive.

This may explain partly some of the social and economic factors causing racial differences in blood pressure.
Potassium Role in Blood Pressure