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Potassium is so important to your health it can be found in every cell in your body and in the fluid surrounding those cells. Your potassium level is important in helping regulate your blood pressure, muscle contractions and heart and kidney functions. Potassium is also in an ionized form and it’s important as an electrolyte for nerve impulse transmission and it helps the body maintain the proper fluid level.

“An elderly friend had potassium levels so low she died. The doctor told her son, who lived in another town, that this woman was prescribed a diuretic that drained potassium plus she had a magnesium deficiency and as a result her heart and lungs failed.” – Jerry McCoy

Potassium and salt have an inverse relationship with each other. As sodium increases, potassium decreases. This can partially explain why high blood pressure is on the rise in people eating the typical western diet. Many, in the western world, eat too much salt in their diets which is pushing our potassium levels down and blood pressure up in many cases.

Many foods are rich in potassium but we often have deficiencies because we aren’t eating enough of the right foods and aren’t replacing the potassium lost through urination and perspiration quickly enough.

Muscle damage, weak reflexes, general weakness, slow irregular heartbeat, continuous thirst, dry skin, acne, constipation or high blood pressure (hypertension) may be signs of a potassium deficiency.

You can add more potassium to your diet without taking supplements just by switching the foods you eat. Processed foods that have been cooked or even heated have lost some of their potassium. Natural orange juice is a good source of potassium but orange juice that has been dehydrated then reconstituted has less potassium and pasteurized juice has less potassium than orange juice fresh from the grove. Organic green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, water cress, whole grains, halibut, potatoes and sweet potatoes are all good sources of potassium but not the only food sources for this important mineral. You obviously have to cook some of these foods but you will still benefit from the nutrients they contain.

It’s important to remember that organic and fresh foods usually provide more nutrients in the food and the type of cooking or processing also affects how much of the original nutrients are lost.

You may lower your blood pressure and feel better by eating more bananas, avocados, parsnips, turnips, apricots and yogurt. Reduce the amount of canned foods you consume, reduce the number of salty snacks you eat and lower your salt intake from other food sources while increasing the fresh fruits and vegetables and your body will thank you with better health.

Ask Dr. Wayne Garland a specialist in natural remedies and natural products.