Similar to vitamins, minerals are also required by the human body in order to carry out different functions. Potassium is one of the most important minerals required by the human body as it helps in proper functioning of the heart muscles. Secondly, potassium is also required to maintain the acid-base balance in the body.
Synthesis of carbohydrates and proteins is also carried out in the presence of potassium. As there are several health benefits associated with this mineral, one should have foods rich in potassium regularly. When the level of this mineral in the body falls severely, the person is said to suffer from potassium deficiency, also known as Hypokalemia. Here we will see more on the causes of potassium deficiency and ways to treat it.
What Causes Potassium Deficiency
We get all the essential amounts of potassium from dietary sources, i.e., foods that we eat. Potassium is found in several plant as well as animal sources. Therefore, gaining required amounts of potassium daily is not difficult. However, if one has an improper diet for a longer period or follows a crash or fad diet, he is prone to suffer from the deficiency of this mineral. Secondly, over use of diuretics and laxatives also leads to depletion of electrolytes and minerals from the body, leading to potassium deficiency. Symptoms of this condition depend on the severity of the condition and vary accordingly. Weakness, tiredness, fatigue, anxiety, temporary memory loss, hypertension, sleep disorders, etc. are some of the symptoms of this condition. Let us take a look at the treatment methods in detail.
Treating Potassium Deficiency
The treatment method of any vitamin or mineral deficiency aims in reversing the condition and rising the low levels of the related vitamin or mineral. Similar is the case with potassium deficiency. As improper diet and dietary habits is one of the major causes of potassium deficiency, making changes in the diet is the most common method of treating the deficiency. Deficiency of Potassium can be treated naturally by including potassium rich foods in the diet. As mentioned above, this mineral is obtained from several vegetarian as well as non vegetarian sources. People suffering from potassium deficiency should include foods like apple, avocado, beet, banana, buttermilk, beef, cod, chicken, clams, dates, figs, kidney beans, Kiwi fruit, lettuce, Lima beans, mushrooms, milk, nectarines, orange, prunes, pumpkin, peaches, potatoes, papaya, peanuts, raisins, salmon, sweet potatoes, turkey, winter squash, yogurt. Fruits like banana, peaches; and dried fruits like raisins and dates contain high amounts of this mineral and should be included in the daily diet to treat the potassium deficiency.
On the other hand, in case of severe potassium deficiency, the doctor may also prescribe potassium supplements to restore the levels of potassium quickly. Secondly, treating the underlying cause can also help in complete cure. For e.g., if it is caused due to use of diuretics, the doctor will change the medications and prescribe something that does not affect the potassium level. Similarly, if the condition is caused due to thyroid disorders, the doctor will treat the thyroid disorder, which will indirectly help in treating low levels of potassium. Therefore, we see that there are various potassium deficiency treatment methods that effectively help in reversing the condition.
Lastly, it should be noted that banana is one of the highest source of potassium and should be consumed every day; whether suffering from potassium deficiency or not. Having a proper and balanced diet helps in prevention of all vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
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