Address Low Potasium Naturally with Whole Food Supplements

Having low potassium levels is nothing to take lightly. Potassium is a mineral that acts as an electrolyte — a carrier of electrical impulses — to maintain: the body's water balance and distribution, muscle and nerve cell function, heart function, and kidney and adrenal function. The balance between potassium and sodium is very important in maintaining health and vitality. Unfortunately, PEOPLE TODAY EAT TOO MANY SODIUM foods and not enough potassium foods.

But taking potassium as a supplement is not a wise idea. Too much potassium can lead to hyperkalemia, or increased potassium levels in the blood. People with kidney problems or severe infection may suffer from a danger of increased potassium levels. So what can you do? Whole Food Supplements!

Adjunctive Nutritional Schedule
* Super Green Food: 1 tbl per day
* Anti Inflammation: 3 per day

Potassium deficiency in the body may lead to:

• heart problems
• muscle cramping and wasting
• kidney problems
• swelling/edema
• fatigue or fainting
• inability to exercise
• nervous system problems
• dry skin
• muscle weakness

Excellent potassium foods (See Super Green Foods and Alkaline Food) include:

• bananas
• potatoes
• dandelion greens
• collard greens
• parsley
• fish: flounder, cod, sardines
• tomatoes
• lima beans
• apricots, melon and dried fruit

Over 95% of the potassium in the body is found within cells. In contrast, most of the sodium in the body is located outside the cells in the blood and other fluids. How does this happen? Cells pump sodium out and potassium in via the 'sodium-potassium' pump.' This pump is in the membranes of all cells in the body. One of its most important functions is preventing the swelling of cells. If sodium is not pumped out, water accumulates within the cell, causing it to swell and ultimately burst. The sodium-potassium pump also functions to maintain the electrical charge within the cell. This is important to muscle and nerve cells. During nerve transmission and muscle contraction, potassium exits the cell and sodium enters, resulting in a change in electrical charge. This change causes a nerve impulse or muscle contraction. Therefore, a potassium deficiency affects muscles and nerves first.

"Potassium is also essential for the conversion of blood sugar into glycogen, the storage form of blood sugar found in the muscles and liver. A potassium shortage results in lower levels of stored glycogen. Because glycogen is used by exercising muscles for energy, a potassium deficiency will produce great fatigue and muscle weakness. These are typically the first signs of potassium deficiency."***

Studies show a low-potassium, high-sodium diet plays a major role in the development of cancer and cardiovascular disease (heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes).* Conversely, a diet high in potassium and low in sodium is protective against these diseases, and in the case of high blood pressure it can be therapeutic.**

"Most Americans have a potassium-to-sodium (K:Na) ratio of less than 1:2. This means most people ingest twice as much sodium as potassium. Researchers recommend a dietary potassium-to-sodium ratio of greater than 5:1 to maintain health. This is ten times higher than the average intake. But even this may not be optimal. A natural diet rich in fruits and vegetables can produce a K:Na ratio of at least 50:1."***

*Khaw KT and Barrett-Connor E, Dietary potassium and stroke-associated mortality, New England Journal of Medicine 316:235-40, 1987; Jansson B, Dietary, total body, and intracellular potassium-to-sodium ratios and their influence on cancer, Cancer  Detect Prevent 14: 563-65, 1991
**Iimura O, Kijima T, Ikuchi K, et. a., Studies on the hypotensive effect of high potassium intake in patients with essential hypertension, Clinical Science 61 Supplement 7, 77s-80s, 1981
***Murray, ND, Michael T., The Complete Book of Juicing, Prima Health, p. 30, 1998
Lininger, Jr., DC, Schuyler, and Alan R. Gaby, MD, et.al., The Natural Pharmacy, Healthnotes, Inc., 1999
Sackheim, George & Ronald M. Schultz, Chemistry for the Health Sciences, The Macmillan Company, New York, 1973
Shayne, Ph.D., Vic, Whole Food Nutrition: The Missing Link in Vitamin Therapy, iuniverse, Lincoln, NE, 2001
Smolin & Grosvenor, Nutrition, Science & Applications,  Saunders College Publishing, 1994

Always coordinate your health program with a qualified health care practitioner regarding regulation of your high or low potasium levels. The nutrients in each Adjunctive Nutritional Schedule are not meant to treat or cure disease, but rather to support health. The FDA has not evaluated any statements made herein. All products have been formulated based on sound scientific and medical research. No artificial ingredients are used.