K+ Potassium is an intracellular electrolyte that carries a small electrical charge, which activates various cell and nerve functions.
It is part of the sodium and potassium pump, which together form a battery whose purpose is to maintain and create cellular energy. 30% your energy comes from this pump.
The Functions of Potassium
Sensitizes cells to thyroid hormones, which helps prevent vascular calcification.
Main cofactor needed to help us utilize sugar (It helps sugar to enter the cells versus staying in the blood).
Needed by all cells.
Regulates heartbeat and helps prevent arrhythmia.
Ensures proper muscle functions; prevents cramping, tremors, twitching.
Helps make stomach acid to synthesize protein.
Nerve health – relaxes nervous system, helps with insomnia.
Provides energy, such as endurance during exercise.
Supports the body to relieve constipation.
Helps to prevent edema which is excess salt and lack of potassium.
Counters sodium toxicity.
Prevents gout.
Except for in stage 5 kidney failure, Potassium protects your kidneys, instead of damaging them like you might hear in the allopathic medical community.
What lowers potassium?
Stress depletes vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can induce stress. Therefore, it is important to address both angles. If we don’t address bodily stressors, potassium will be used up or lost at high rates. So, plugging the holes to refill your supply is crucial to support blood sugar imbalances and resolve symptoms like fatigue, mood and appetite swings, food cravings, insomnia, and poor resilience to stress.
Causes of a potassium deficiency:
The #1 reason for lack of potassium is DIET!
The other reasons are:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Diuretics
Stress
Keto
Alcohol
Consuming excess fluids
Sweating
Diabetes
Fasting
Most roots, tubers, and whole-food carbohydrates
are rich in potassium for a reason.
The best sources of easily digested food
high in nutrients and bioavailable potassium:
Squashes and pumpkins
Root vegetables such as potatoes
Fruit juice
Ripe fruit
Coconut water
Dairy
Seafood
For example:
300ml of Orange Juice contains 628 mg of potassium
200g of Potatoes contain 780 mg of potassium
250ml of Milk contain 389 mg of potassium
You would need 15.6 bananas to reach your daily potassium needs of 4700mg / day.
The blood sugar connection explained.
Potassium increases function of beta cells in the pancreas, helping them release insulin when sugar is elevated. Insulin helps absorb sugar and minerals into the cells.
It synthesizes glycogen which is the storage form of glucose. Glycogen is stored in the liver which helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and maintain our metabolism throughout the night.
Studies have determined that experimentally induced hypokalemia (restricting potassium rich foods in the diet) led to impaired glucose tolerance by reducing insulin secretion in response to glucose loads.
If you struggle to tolerate carbohydrates, potassium might be your missing link.
The Protein connection explained.
Your body's pH activates certain enzymes. For example, peptides are activated at a certain PH level, so if your pH never reaches this level, peptides will remain inactivated, and you won’t digest protein.
These forms of potassium are found in foods: potassium phosphate, potassium sulphate and potassium citrate. Potassium citrate is alkaline and helps with kidney stones, oxalates, and gout.
How to check your levels?
Blood is not the ideal place to check your body's K levels, as potassium is an intracellular minerals and your body always keeps your electrolytes at a perfect balance so that you can survive.
It is much more valuable to check your minerals via a Hair Test which will show you your potassium status on a cellular level.
In hair test results you will be able to see your potassium level as well as several potassium ratios. One of them is the Ca/K (calcium/potassium) ratio, which can give insight into your cellular thyroid hormone levels. The other is the Na/K ratio (sodium/potassium). It is related to the sodium pump mechanism, and the electrical potential of cells that is regulated by sodium and potassium levels.
Further Resources:
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/importance-electrolytes-hashimotos/
https://drcgolding.co.za/mineral-ratio-testing-via-htma-basic-ratios-and-their-meaning/
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