The Power of Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium

About Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium

A balanced diet includes all the essential macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals. There’s no way that you can skip or replace one for another. Even carbohydrates are necessary for the body, even though you might reduce the intake for losing weight or other health goals. One of the essential minerals for the body is potassium. Just like other minerals, people often take potassium intake for granted.

In this post, we will talk about the benefits of potassium in detail, along with quick tips and suggestions on the right intake, sources, and other aspects.

The Basics:

Potassium helps in maintaining fluid balance in the body and helps in keeping the major organs healthy. It is extremely essential for avoiding several chronic health issues, related to the heart, brain, and nerves. Having the mineral in your diet is extremely crucial, especially because it aids in lowering blood pressure, which is an enormous risk for heart disease. Potassium and sodium often work in different wants, as sodium promotes the retention of fluids, which can result in higher blood pressure. With enough potassium in the diet, you can reverse the effects. It is also known to be beneficial for bone health and can protect your body from bone loss. It is also helpful in reducing the risk of kidney stones.

Potassium Daily Amount:

Experts advise around 4,700 milligrams of potassium each day for grown adults. However, if you check the figures, the amount taken by men and women is much lower. According to WebMD, men in the US get around 3,200 milligrams of dietary potassium per day, while women get around 2,400 milligrams on average. The deficiency is mostly related to junk food habits. Most people don’t eat enough fruits and veggies each day, which are the primary sources of dietary potassium.

Where to Get Your Potassium?

Unlike other supplements, you should get your potassium from the diet. Potassium can be found in many foods that are high in other minerals and nutrients. Some of the highest sources of potassium include winter squash, sweet potato, potato, yogurt, fruit juices, broccoli, and banana. If you are a non-vegetarian, you can get pork tenderloin and chicken breast too. Lentils, milk, and dairy products also have a good amount of potassium. Besides food, you can also get potassium from vitamin-enhanced water and other beverages with better ph. You might want to replace your regular drinking water with high-quality alkaline water.

Please note that certain drugs that are used for lowering blood pressure can increase the levels of potassium in the body. If you have issues with your kidney function, your doctor might advise reducing the intake of potassium. Those who take medications should talk to their physician about how the drugs and medicines can impact the potassium levels of the body. Don’t shy away from asking questions, especially if you are unsure of the actual amount of mineral you need. Also, if you have a potassium deficiency, talk to your doctor about supplements!

Calcium:

Calcium is essential for your bones, and one study has revealed that it can also help in losing weight. Most dairy products, especially cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt are high sources of natural calcium. If you are a non-vegetarian, sardines can be your best pick. Keep in mind that you don’t need more than 500 milligrams of calcium per day. For certain health conditions, you may need to take additional supplements, but do talk to your doctor before starting any medication.

Magnesium:

Magnesium is vital for the transmission of different nerve impulses and helps in regulating the temperature of the body. It also helps in maintaining the natural energy in the body and is vital for bones and teeth. Health experts have time and again emphasized the significance of having magnesium, zinc, potassium, and calcium in the diet. Besides being vital for the different functions of the body, magnesium also helps in the absorption of calcium too. Women should focus on the intake of this mineral, as it helps in keeping osteoporosis away and can offer relief from menopause symptoms. It is known to aid with common premenstrual symptoms. Magnesium also helps in protein synthesis in the body and can help in the absorption of other minerals. It works wonders on the muscles and can also reduce the impact of common health issues such as hypertension, sleep disorders, and headaches related to migraines. People who do not ensure enough intake of magnesium have a greater risk of type-2 diabetes.

Other tips that matter:

• If you think you aren’t getting enough calcium, magnesium, and potassium, do not start popping supplements immediately. Always consult your doctor, if you have any health issues or concerns.

• Keep a check on your diet and water. Besides including the foods, we have mentioned above, you can also go for alkaline and vitamin-enhanced water. You will find high-pH water in the market, which is rich in all of these minerals.

• Extreme supplements can cause many side effects. For example, potassium supplements are known to cause diarrhea and stomach irritation, while excessive magnesium supplements can lead to nausea, vomiting, and low heart rate. Too much calcium can lead to kidney damage, constipation, and urination issues.

Ideally, your focus should be on eating a natural diet at all times. Most veggies and leafy foods have the right amount of these three minerals, and with a little increase in your non-vegetarian protein intake, you can ensure that the minimum requirements are met.

Several other micronutrients are necessary for the proper function of the body vitamin E, calcium, Iron, potassium, zinc, and magnesium. These can be obtained from fresh fruits, green vegetables, and dairy products like milk, paneer, curd, egg, fish, etc. These days natural health supplements are also available in the market in packaged form. These can be used within 1 to 2 days of packaging.

These products can be immensely beneficial to people who are unable to meet their nutrition requirements through diet because of medical constraints, allergies, or mere diet imbalances.