Potassium and Your Health
Without enough potassium, your body can’t work properly. Potassium is a mineral and an electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance, moves nutrients in and out of cells, and assists in the proper functioning of your heartbeat, muscles, and nerves.
According to the ODS, the adequate adult intake for potassium ranges from 2,400 to 3,600 milligrams (mg) a day, depending on your age and sex. Adequate intake means the amount needed to meet nutritional needs without leading to a deficiency. However, the amount to aim for based on a 2,000-calorie diet — the daily value, or DV — is 4,700 mg per day. Potassium can help lower blood pressure by lessening the effects of sodium, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). It flushes excess sodium out of the body through urine.
Potassium is essential for good health. But if you have chronic kidney disease or take certain medications, you may be advised to limit your intake. Your kidneys are responsible for maintaining potassium balance in your blood. If your blood potassium levels get too high (hyperkalemia), you may experience fatigue, muscle weakness, or constipation. Hyperkalemia can eventually lead to an irregular heartbeat or even cause your heart to stop, according to the AHA.
According to UC Davis Health, if you have kidney disease or you’ve been prescribed a renal diet by your doctor, then you need to limit your daily intake of potassium: typically 2,000 to 2,500 mg a day.
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