On a Weight Loss Plan? Learn How Potassium and Potassium Rich Foods Are Important to a Healthy Lifestyle

It is no surprise: Diabetes and diabetes related disorders are on the rise. I am writing this article to share with you all some information necessary to obtain proper endocrine system health. Potassium rich foods, which is a very important nutrient namely because it is one that is easily met, but people rarely realize they are not getting enough. I am one of those people; in fact, I may have found a reason why my thyroid medication (I am hypothyroid) recently had to be increased--A lack of Potassium! Also, if you have diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypertension, or have a history of kidney problems, this is for you too!

According to healthvitaminsguide.com, "Potassium is the third most abundant mineral in the body and is considered an electrolyte." However, if you have an under-active thyroid, having too little potassium from foods may inhibit iodine usage and cause your metabolism to plummet, causing major problems in losing fat .

Now, this does not mean you should mega dose on potassium! an overdose in potassium can cause major heart issues including death, so carefully monitoring potassium levels should be a part of anyone's (especially a hypothyroid person's) diet regimen.

Potassium Benefits:

healthvitaminsguide.com's website also state studies have shown that potassium may help to prevent high blood pressure and may enhance the effect of anti-hypertensive medications. Did you know that both physical and mental stress can lead to a deficiency in potassium? I didn't...

Potassium also helps nerve impulse transmission and enables the body to convert glucose sugars into energy, which is then stored in reserve by the muscles and liver. This information is very beneficial to diabetics and those with hypothyroidism.

Moreover, potassium assists in muscle contractions and in maintaining appropriate levels of fluid and the electrolyte balance in the body cells. It is critical to maintaining a normal heartbeat or heart rhythm.

Usually, the human body has about a 4.5 ounce supply and most of it is located inside muscle cells. Phosphorus serves as the ionic counterpart to other electrolytes like sodium and chloride (salt), and needs a balance of these minerals for many essential body functions. If you have a higher sodium diet, your body will need have a higher need for potassium to maintain the delicate balance between the two.

Potassium Rich Foods:

The following is a list of potassium rich foods you probably have in your pantry right now. To restate, whenever eating potassium rich foods, be sure to eat in moderation. Thy typical human needs about 3,000-3500 mg of potassium per day. Potassium rich foods are as follows (food list provided by healthvitamin.com and Buzzle.com) :

Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Brazil Nuts, Brown Rice, Cantaloupe, Figs, Honeydew, Kiwi, Legumes, Lima beans, Milk, Oranges, Orange Juice, Peaches, Potatoes, Prunes, Raisins, Roasted Peanuts with skin, Spinach, Squash, Vegetable Juices, Wheat Bread, White Rice, Winter Squash, Yogurt

Tomatoes, milk products, avocados, meats, potato, celery

Carrots, broccoli, rasins, prunes, watermelon,

Fish: Cod, flounder, sardines, salmon, poultry: chicken, turkey are high potassium foods.

Hamburger, grains such as bran and wheat.

Artichoke, Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Corn, Dates, Green Beans, Green Peppers, Iceburg

Letttuce, Kidney Beans, Onions, Papayas, Parsley, Pumpkin, Peas, Romaine Lettuce, Strawberries, Sweet Potato, Tomato.