What does postassium do for your body
Potassium: Why It's Essential for Your Body. Potassium is a mineral necessary for the proper function of many of your body systems; it's also often referred to as one of the key electrolytes in your body. Potassium, along with sodium, the other electrolyte, plays a vital role in regulating the fluid levels in your body.otassium: Why It's Essential for Your Body. Potassium is a mineral necessary for the proper function of many of your body systems; it's also often referred to as one of the key electrolytes in your body. Potassium, along with sodium, the other electrolyte, plays a vital role in regulating the fluid levels in your body. Potassium is a very important mineral for the proper function of all cells, tissues, and organs in the human body. It is also an electrolyte, a substance that conducts electricity in the body, along with sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium.Potassium is crucial to heart function and plays a key role in skeletal and smooth muscle contraction, making it important for normal digestive and muscular function.eeping the right potassium balance in the body depends on the amount of sodium and magnesium in the blood. Too much sodium -- common in Western diets that use a lot of salt -- may increase the need for potassium. Potassium is a mineral that plays many critical roles in the body. Food sources of potassium include fruits (especially dried fruits), cereals, beans, milk, and vegetables. Potassium is used for treating and preventing low potassium levels.It is also used to treat high blood pressure and prevent stroke.otassium is a mineral that plays many critical roles in the body. Food sources of potassium include fruits (especially dried fruits), cereals, beans, milk, and vegetables. Potassium is used for treating and preventing low potassium levels. Potassium is a key mineral for the human body because it counteracts sodium in many physiological processes. High doses of dietary potassium are an effective approach for reducing hypertension and related chronic heart diseases caused by high sodium intake.otassium is a key mineral for the human body because it counteracts sodium in many physiological processes. High doses of dietary potassium are an effective approach for reducing hypertension and related chronic heart diseases caused by high sodium intake. Potassium's Role in Maintaining Health. Many foods contain potassium, especially fresh fruits, and is essential for human life. It's a mineral with the chemical element symbol of K. Potassium wears many hats when it comes to functions within the body. Consider the following. 1  Potassium can help lower your blood pressure. It is an electrolyte, which means that it helps your cells maintain fluid balance. 2  Potassium also acts as a blood buffer by maintaining pH and acid levels. 3  This also prevents the loss of calcium and phosphorus, two important minerals for bone health. It helps in maintaining the heart, brain, kidneys, muscle tissues, and other organs of the body in a healthy condition. Hyperkalemia is characterized by the presence of excessive calcium in the blood, while a deficiency of potassium causes hypokalemia.Health Benefits of Potassium.auses of Hyperkalemia. The normal level of potassium in the blood is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L (mEq/L stand for milliequivalents per liter of blood) . Hyperkalemia is a condition in which the levels of potassium in the blood exceeds this level. It is characterized by irregular heartbeats, and in extreme cases, can be fatal. Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) Overview. Potassium is a mineral (electrolyte) in the body. Almost 98% of potassium is found inside the cells. Small changes in the level of potassium that is present outside the cells can have severe effects on the heart, nerves, and muscles.Potassium is important to maintain several bodily functions:ow Potassium (Hypokalemia) Overview. Potassium is a mineral (electrolyte) in the body. Almost 98% of potassium is found inside the cells. Small changes in the level of potassium that is present outside the cells can have severe effects on the heart, nerves, and muscles. In this article. Potassium plays a role in every heartbeat. A hundred thousand times a day, it helps trigger your heart to squeeze blood through your body. It also helps your muscles to move, your nerves to work, and your kidneys to filter blood.he best way to get enough potassium is to eat fruits and vegetables. It's also in dairy products, whole grains, meat, and fish. Other great sources include: 1  Potatoes. 2  Tomatoes. 3  Avocados. 4  Fresh fruits (bananas, oranges, and strawberries). 5  Orange juice. 6  Dried fruits (raisins, apricots, prunes, and dates). 7  Spinach. Causes of Hyperkalemia. The normal level of potassium in the blood is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L (mEq/L stand for milliequivalents per liter of blood) . Hyperkalemia is a condition in which the levels of potassium in the blood exceeds this level. It is characterized by irregular heartbeats, and in extreme cases, can be fatal.auses of Hyperkalemia. The normal level of potassium in the blood is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L (mEq/L stand for milliequivalents per liter of blood) . Hyperkalemia is a condition in which the levels of potassium in the blood exceeds this level. It is characterized by irregular heartbeats, and in extreme cases, can be fatal. As an electrolyte, potassium is vital to the healthy functioning of all of your body's cells, tissues and organs. It also helps to control the amount of water in your body and maintain a healthy blood pH level.otassium is one of the most important electrolytes in the human body, with others including chloride, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and sodium.
Potassium is a mineral that plays many critical roles in the body. Food sources of potassium include fruits (especially dried fruits), cereals, beans, milk, and vegetables. Potassium is used for treating and preventing low potassium levels.