Potassium is known as the great alkalizer as it is a primary electrolyte, important in pH balance and water balance. This element plays a vital role in verve function and cellular integrity by regulating the transfer of nutrients into the cell. Potassium attracts oxygen to tissues; lack of it reduces tissue oxygenation.

Potassium functions in the body: Supports the muscular system, Increases tissue and blood alkalinity, Nerve tonic, Reduces acidity, Promotes good health and vigor, Helps eliminate toxins, Supplies healthy nerves.

Potassium is known as a great alkalizer as it is a primary electrolyte, important in pH balance and water balance. Potassium constitutes five percent of the total mineral content of the body even though only about three to four ounces are found in the body at one time. Potassium is easily absorbed but it is essential to point out that at least 90% of it is excreted through the kidney but is also found in fecal matter. Potassium is vital to eliminate wastes in the body.

"Potassium is a natural diuretic, helping your body excrete water and sodium, thus possibly lowering blood pressure. In fact, there is evidence that salt sensitivity may be caused by too little potassium in the diet, says high blood pressure researcher G. Gopal Krishna, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Temple University." 18 Scientists believe that potassium has the ability to pump sodium out of the body's cells and reduces body fluid. One study disproved the old ideal that high sodium diets are the cause of high blood pressure. In fact, many heavy salt users - up to 67 percent in one study - remained unaffected when placed on a very low salt diet that researchers began to wonder if some people are salt-sensitive while others are not.

It is more likely the relative deficiency of other minerals in the diet - potassium, calcium and magnesium - that determines who is and who is not. "Prolonged dehydration causes potassium to be removed from intracellular compartments and subsequently the electrolyte is lost in the urine. This release of potassium is a sign of protein catabolism and tissue wasting. Potassium also will be lost from cellular spaces when an excessive loss of sodium occurs. Magnesium deficiency contributes to potassium loss and impairs cell potassium repletion, despite adequate potassium intake." 19 Potassium may affect blood vessel tone and may modify the way blood vessels react to circulating hormones that affect blood pressure.

Not only is the effect of potassium on blood pressure quite remarkable, it is also necessary for good muscle contraction. Potassium also produces healthy electrical activity in the heart and rapid transmission of nerve impulses throughout the body. Heartbeat irregularities are commonly considered a classic sign of potassium deficiency. "Magnesium and potassium are absolutely essential to the proper functioning of the entire cardiovascular system. Their critical roles in preventing heart disease and strokes are widely accepted. In addition, there is a substantial body of knowledge demonstrating that magnesium and/or potassium supplementation is effective in treating a wide range of cardiovascular diseases including angina, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, and high blood pressure." 20

Potassium plays a vital role in nerve function and cellular integrity by regulating the transfer of nutrients into the cell. As potassium reserves are precipitated mental illness and even alcoholism may develop. The nerves and mind become inflamed and causes the person to see only the negative side of life. When potassium starvation becomes chronic in proportions, suicide is often contemplated and sometimes attempted. Ambition and drive is lost and work becomes deplorable. The more severe the potassium depletion the more pronounced the symptoms.

Potassium attracts oxygen to tissues; lack of it reduces tissue oxygenation. In turn this causes lax muscles, vital organs to sag and the heart to weaken. Lack of potassium opens the door to all manner of germ life in the body. One of the common signs of potassium deficiency is earache. The reason for this is bacterial toxins are not properly flushed from the body. Another problem noted is that tissue metabolism is interrupted causing skin eruptions. If potassium is depleted it is likely that albumin, sugar, gelatinous substances, sodium and chlorine are also in short supply or not fully assimilated. Potassium "Works together with sodium to keep acid-alkaline balance." 21 The body clearly needs a certain amount of sodium to maintain blood pressure; it also needs certain levels of other minerals, such as potassium, to keep sodium levels in the body from getting too high.

People who have hypoglycemia often suffer from headaches, weakness and other conditions that can be directly attributed to a potassium deficiency. Potassium is depleted by low blood sugar. On the other end of the scale, diabetes, which involves reduced tolerance to sugar, indicates a lack of potassium. Both conditions can be helped with a potassium supplement. "Potassium stimulates nerve impulses for muscle contractions and assists in the conversion of glucose to glycogen. Mental stress, excessive sweating, alcohol, coffee, and a high intake of salt and sugar deplete potassium. The most proven combination for energy is magnesium-potassium aspartate, which reduces fatigue, increases stamina and delays the onset of metabolic exhaustion." 22

Potassium is also indicated to help counteract tumor growth. Research shows that by controlling the salt and water content at the cellular level, cellular function, energy production, and overall biological integrity can be restored or improved. Low sodium, high potassium environments can restore damaged cell proteins, in part, to their normal undamaged configuration. Potassium also supports the adrenal glands. These glands are often severely impaired from a protracted period of functioning in a continual state of stress response (adrenal burnout). "Potassium is essential to the efficient processing of foods in the body; without it they cannot be broken down into the proper compounds." 23 Potassium is important to everyone as long as it is supplied in biochemical or supplement form.

18. Matthew Hoffman, William LeGro and the Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books, Disease Free, How to Prevent, Treat and Cure More Than 150 Illnesses and Conditions (Rodale Press, 1993) page 283.

19. Robert Garrison, Jr., M.A., R.Ph. & Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., The Nutrition Desk Reference, (Keats Publishing, 1995) page 169.

20. Edited by Josehp E. Pizzorno, Jr. and Michael T. Murray, Textbook of Natural Medicine, Second Edition, Volume 2, (Churchill Livingstone, 1999) page 1121.

21. Louise Tenney, M.H., Health Handbook, (Woodland Books, 1987) page 295.

22. James R. Privitera, M.D. and Alan Stang, M.A., Silent Clots Life's Biggest Killers, (The Catacombs Press, 1996) pages 104 - 105.

23. Patricia Skinner, Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, (Findarticles.com) page 2.

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