LifeSurance.info – The benefits of potassium for body health are quite diverse, ranging from lowering blood pressure to preventing stroke. By consuming foods high in potassium or potassium supplements, your daily potassium needs can be well met.
Potassium or potassium is one of the important minerals that the body needs. This mineral functions as an electrolyte to conduct electrical impulses throughout the body. These impulses play a role in controlling the functions of the body’s organs, including muscle contractions to fluid balance in the body.
In order to get the benefits of potassium for body health, you can eat foods high in potassium or take potassium supplements sold at pharmacies as recommended by your doctor.
A Series of Benefits of Potassium for Health
Here are some of the health benefits of potassium or potassium:
1. Lowers high blood pressure
Taking potassium supplements can be beneficial to prevent high blood pressure and lower blood pressure, especially for those who often consume foods with high salt content.
2. Lowers the risk of developing heart disease
Eating potassium-rich foods every day is essential to keep your heart rate stable. The state of hypokalemia, in which the patient lacks potassium content in his body, is suspected to play a role in the occurrence of death due to arrhythmias.
In addition, potassium-rich foods can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
3. Reduces the risk of stroke
Another benefit of potassium is that it lowers the risk of stroke by up to 20%. This is because potassium is able to prevent and lower high blood pressure which is one of the triggers for stroke.
4. Maintain bone health
Studies show that eating potassium-rich foods can prevent osteoporosis, especially among older women.
Potassium can increase bone density and reduce the excretion of calcium through the urine. However, more research is still needed to support this statement.
5. Lowers the risk of developing diabetes
According to research, a lack of potassium intake in the body can increase the risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, further evidence and studies are still needed to support this statement.
6. Optimizes kidney function
Eating foods high in potassium can also optimize kidney function and prevent kidney stone disease. The reason is that potassium plays a role in lowering calcium levels in the urine. That way, kidney stone disease can be prevented.
7. Supports the performance of the body’s nervous system
The next benefit of potassium for body health is to support the performance of the body’s nervous system. This is because potassium acts as an impulse to help the body’s nervous system work properly when stimulated.
The fulfillment of the body’s need for potassium will make it easier for the brain as part of the body’s nervous system to connect with other body cells.
8. Supports muscle contraction
In addition to supporting the performance of the body’s nervous system, another benefit of potassium that is no less interesting is supporting muscle contraction. The reason is, potassium has an important role in electrical impulses that allow muscles to contract properly.
Therefore, when you lack potassium in the body, the risk of experiencing weakness and muscle cramps can increase.
Food Sources Containing Potassium
To get the various benefits of potassium above, you can meet your body’s daily needs for potassium by consuming apricots, raisins, potatoes, kidney beans, oranges, soybeans, bananas, milk, spinach, chicken breast, yogurt, beef, tomatoes, broccoli, apples, biwa (loquat), cashews, black tea, and eggs.
Even so, you also need to control the levels of potassium consumed to avoid health problems that can occur in the body. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia recommends potassium intake of at least 4,700–5,300 milligrams per day.
Excessive potassium consumption can trigger abnormal heart rates, impaired kidney function, and severe infections. Meanwhile, potassium deficiency will cause muscle weakness, increased blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney disorders.
Potassium is indeed important for the body, but don’t forget to keep the intake of other nutrients balanced and provide the maximum benefits for the body. Do not hesitate to consult a nutritionist regarding the benefits of potassium and how to get it optimally.
