Potassium is both a metal on the periodic table of elements and a mineral that is an important part of a balanced diet. Because of its abundance in the foods we eat daily, most people have no problem taking in the necessary amount of potassium for their bodies. The mineral is directly related to healthy brain and nerve functions, muscle growth, and the balancing of water in the body. There are certain illnesses that are caused by abundance of potassium and, in rarer instances, when there is not enough present in the body.
History of
Sir Humphry Davy discovered potassium in 1807. Before then, potassium and sodium were thought to be the same thing, since potassium is so commonly found attached to sodium in nature. Davy was studying caustic potash, which contains potassium, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms and derived pure potassium from that. In addition to discovering a new element and mineral, Davy also found one of the first natural electrolytes.
The Facts
Potassium is a very common dietary mineral. It is found in foods such as bananas, raisins, beets, spinach, red meats, strawberries, and mushrooms. Since it is both involved in the cellular and electrical processes of the body, it is classified as an electrolyte. Some important body functions that relates to potassium are muscle growth and protein synthesis, as well as regulating the balance of acids and bases in the body. It is recommended that adults take in 4.7 grams of potassium a day as part of their diet.
Risk Factors
Having a diet that is deficient in potassium can lead to something called hypokalemia. It is normally caused by disease, but an inefficient diet could also be to blame. Hypokalemia can result in high blood pressure and an increased sensitivity to salt in the body. On the opposite end, having too much potassium can lead to hyperkalemia. This can be caused by diet, kidney problems, or an inability to break down proteins. Advanced hyperkalemia has been known to cause fatal heart problems.
Benefits
Having enough potassium in the diet will lead to a number of health benefits. First, a body's muscles will be in excellent condition. Potassium will fuel them with glycogen and they are working properly so that they will be able to grow with the aid of exercise. The heart, being one of the body's strongest muscles, benefits highly from potassium, and having the recommended amount of the mineral every day will efficiently lower blood pressure.
Features
Potassium is a chemical element on the , taking up the spot of the 19th element. When seen in nature, it has a silvery-white color that is highly reactive to air (in which is oxidizes) and water. It is found bonded to other minerals quite commonly because it ignites when reacting individually with water, which is found just about everywhere. The principal source of potassium, called potash, is found deep in the earth, but potassium is also extracted from the salts in seawater.
Function
Potassium has a number of functions in the human body, all of them making the mineral one of the most important to have in an everyday diet. For one, it functions to keep muscles healthy and in check. Potassium will help with muscle growth and also work to make sure that muscles are able to contract properly. Since the heart is a muscle, potassium leads to a very healthy heart. It is able to do this by converting sugar in the blood into glycogen, which is stored in the muscles and used by them as a source of energy. Potassium also balances out the pH levels in the water in the body, and it is able to do all of these things by controlling electrical impulses between cells and muscles.
Tags: muscle growth, blood pressure, make sure, periodic table, potassium lead,