The Necessity of Potassium in Your Diet

Professional training in food and nutrition, however gives one an appreciation of the highly complex mass of chemistry that goes into the makeup of a human being. This complexity is particularly noticeable in a weight loss where food chemistry, in the hands of a professional, can produce highly significant improvements in achieving a permanent fat loss.

There are many ways to cause a reduction in weight, but many of them result in only a temporary loss. A great number of them also result in a sick and haggard appearance because of the loss of muscle tissue rather than fat.

The great danger to health from fat does not come from the bulges you see under your skin - comes from the fat that accumulates around the heart, the kidneys, and the liver.

Only a diet based on proper nutrition can make you healthier while making you slender.

If you are overweight, it is essential for health and for appearance to take it off, but be concerned with the way you lose it.

Crash diets will leave you weak and as soon as you have reached your limit of tolerance you will return to your old eating habits and your old weight. Taking medication to reduce is very foolish and could be exceedingly dangerous. The fact that the person administering the medication has an M.D. after his name does not make it less foolish or dangerous.

Let me give you a vivid example why you should concern yourself with the method of reducing and it has nothing to do with "calories" or "vitamins." During any loss in weight the body loses an essential mineral that if not .properly replaced can result in a serious condition - even death.

I am referring to potassium. This mineral is primarily responsible for keeping the fluid balance in the cells of your body. If you lose too much fluid-too suddenly - as with strong diuretics (water) pills just to get your scale weight down fast, you are flirting with danger.

The necessary amount of potassium must be replaced or you can suffer dire results. Fortunately, this vital mineral is readily available in many foods, but strange diets consisting of only a selection of limited foods or the "crash" diets do not provide for this replacement. This is one danger of the calorie count.

While there is some potassium in meat and fish, any diet that eliminates carbohydrates - fruits and vegetables - should be considered foolish. Oranges, dried fruits, bananas, green leafy vegetables, are all good sources of potassium.

Keep in mind, too, that the heart muscle function is dependent upon adequate potassium levels. Your diet and weight loss can be a delight or a disaster, depending on the advice you get.