What about potassium?

[inquisitor]

Shouldn't we be eating more potassium than sodium? Why aren't we? And also, how many bananas should we eat a day?

Who's telling the truth, the AHA or the food companies? Feels like sodium is being pushed into each and every one of us all the time.

Is there an economic or scientific reason for this?

 

[Plinco]

Too much potassium in one severing can kill you, lethal injection is a concentrated potassium shot.

If you want a good source of potassium, green vegetables, red and sweet potatoes, and white beans.

 

[inquisitor]

Too much potassium in one severing can kill you, lethal injection is a concentrated potassium shot.

So don't exceed recommended potassium levels, right? That's it.

Also, it looks like the problem is too much sodium. Am I wrong in saying this?

 

[inquisitor]

If you want a good source of potassium, green vegetables, red and sweet potatoes, and white beans.

Thanks, by the way.

 

[Plinco]

So don't exceed recommended potassium levels, right? That's it.

Also, it looks like the problem is too much sodium. Am I wrong in saying this?

The issue, as I understand it, it the sodium/potassium balance. Most people are higher in sodium relative to potassium.

As long as you're getting potassium from consuming food, you're not going to overdo it.

 

[inquisitor]

I know that. I think what I'm trying to say is...
aren't most of us having too much sodium and too little potassium in our diets? Or is that just me?

I'm not worried about overdoing. I think I'm worried about being deficient, and not just for myself but for other people as well.

 

[Plinco]

I know that. I think what I'm trying to say is...
aren't most of us having too much sodium and too little potassium in our diets? Or is that just me?

I'm not worried about overdoing. I think I'm worried about being deficient, and not just for myself but for other people as well.

The short answer is that people don't eat enough vegetables.

 

[RickTheToad]

Shouldn't we be eating more potassium than sodium? Why aren't we? And also, how many bananas should we eat a day?

Who's telling the truth, the AHA or the food companies? Feels like sodium is being pushed into each and every one of us all the time.

Is there an economic or scientific reason for this?

Just take a Vitamin D & K2 supplement daily. I like Designs for Health or Pure Encapsulations. Unless you are having a lot of fruits and veggies, you will probably have to supplement.

 

[MFA]

Shouldn't we be eating more potassium than sodium? Why aren't we? And also, how many bananas should we eat a day?

Who's telling the truth, the AHA or the food companies? Feels like sodium is being pushed into each and every one of us all the time.

Is there an economic or scientific reason for this?

Most people get far more sodium than potassium because processed foods are everywhere. Sodium makes food taste better and last longer, so companies use plenty of it. Potassium mainly comes from fresh fruits, vegetables, beans and dairy, which many people do not eat enough of. The AHA encourages higher potassium and lower sodium for heart health. Food companies focus on sodium because it is cheap, practical and helps products sell. You do not need many bananas. One or two a day is fine. Potatoes, yogurt, beans, oranges, spinach and avocados are great potassium sources too.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Just take a Vitamin D & K2 supplement daily. I like Designs for Health or Pure Encapsulations. Unless you are having a lot of fruits and veggies, you will probably have to supplement.

Even with that, the food supply cannot be trusted to contain any level of nutrients these days.

They have done numerous studies where even testing crops from the same field show wildly different levels of nutrients ranging from the full amount to near zero depending on where they are in the field.

Over production and using the same soil without replenishment of nutrients has destroyed that...supplementing to maintain proper levels of nutrients and key minerals has never been more important than it is today.

Fully agree with D and K2, but also 90%+ of all people are deficient in magnesium which plays a key role in dealing with the calcium problem along with D and K2 as well as being the enzymatic catalyst for almost 500 processes in the body.

I much prefer magnesium oil since it's more fully absorbed at the cellular level than oral forms, but as long as it isn't oxide, most magnesium supplements will help.

 

[FlexpertHamilton]

The RDA for sodium is too low. So we're not consuming enough sodium first off.

But yes, most people are not consuming nearly enough potassium or magnesium either. These 3 are the most critical electrolytes we need.

It's very difficult to get adequate potassium and especially magnesium from a "balanced" diet, which is a meme and doesn't really exist.

You almost have to supplement them. I take 400mg magnesium glycinate a day, and I take ~5000mg potassium cloride (salt substitute) over the course of a week or so. I sometmes take up as much as 1000mg on an empty stomach, but that's a bit high and it's probably better err on the side of caution, 500-750mg per dose is probably better, but you can take much more than that if you do it with a full stomach.

Don't buy those electrolyte mixes they're massively underdosed and overpriced. Salt substitute is dirt cheap and available at any grocery store. Magnesium is a bit pricey but it's 100% worth it.

 

[RickTheToad]

Even with that, the food supply cannot be trusted to contain any level of nutrients these days.

They have done numerous studies where even testing crops from the same field show wildly different levels of nutrients ranging from the full amount to near zero depending on where they are in the field.

Over production and using the same soil without replenishment of nutrients has destroyed that...supplementing to maintain proper levels of nutrients and key minerals has never been more important than it is today.

Fully agree with D and K2, but also 90%+ of all people are deficient in magnesium which plays a key role in dealing with the calcium problem along with D and K2 as well as being the enzymatic catalyst for almost 500 processes in the body.

I much prefer magnesium oil since it's more fully absorbed at the cellular level than oral forms, but as long as it isn't oxide, most magnesium supplements will help.

100%. I've been cooking more and more trying to keep the garbage out of my system.

 

[inquisitor]

The RDA for sodium is too low. So we're not consuming enough sodium first off.

What do you mean by too low RDA for sodium?

 

[Bible_Belt]

100%. I've been cooking more and more trying to keep the garbage out of my system.

I would recommend gardening, too. Tomatoes are a good potassium source.

 

[Aurora Demon]

We need potassium to live.

 

[Scaramouche]

We need potassium to live.

Hi Aurora,
Pre-Covid,excessive alcohol consumption left me with Acid Reflux problems...Took a while to overcome,but starting the day with a Banana certainly helps.

 

[Aurora Demon]

Hi Aurora,
Pre-Covid,excessive alcohol consumption left me with Acid Reflux problems...Took a while to overcome,but starting the day with a Banana certainly helps.

Sorry to hear about your acid reflux.

 

[Sega Genesis]

I take ~5000mg potassium cloride (salt substitute) over the course of a week or so. I sometmes take up as much as 1000mg on an empty stomach, but that's a bit high and it's probably better err on the side of caution, 500-750mg per dose is probably better, but you can take much more than that if you do it with a full stomach.

Thanks for this @FlexpertHamilton I did not know about salt subs and how much potassium chloride it contains.

We need on average at least 3000 mg potassium a day which if you're watching your weight is not easy! It wasn't for me anyway and my levels got pretty low.

Low sodium vegetable juice (V-8) is another great source at 850 mg for 8 oz which I've incorporated into my diet now. At least one 8 Oz in morning and sometimes one in afternoon.

I mentioned this recently in another thread but try and get blood checked annually if you can. Low potassium often has no symptoms until it gets so low (below 2.5 mmol/L) , you're at serious risk for a heart attack or stroke/seizure and other respiratory and health issues. The norm is 3.5 mmol/L and above. Below 3.0 is cause for concern.

@SW15 passed away late last year from a seizure while swimming not sure what happened but ya gotta be diligent about this stuff, iron intake too.

Stay healthy!