Potassium is both an electrolyte and a mineral, which means that it’s involved in the maintenance of fluid balance within as well as many bodily functions. It’s easy to tell the importance of potassium because being deficient in it can have a considerable impact on your health.
The following are the top 7 signs that you are not getting enough potassium by means of your diet:
You Feel Wiped Out
Since potassium is an electrolyte, not having enough of it in the body can leave you feeling fatigued. This is especially true after exercising and losing plenty of fluids by means of your sweat.
Your Muscles are Weak
Medical experts say that potassium is a mineral important for the proper contraction of the muscles. It’s for the exact reason why being deficient in potassium can make your muscle weak. Similarly, not getting enough potassium can make you experience muscle cramps on a regular basis.
You Seem Lightheaded
Since your heart is a muscle, lacking in potassium can make it contract less efficiently and slowly. This results in not having enough oxygen-rich blood delivered to your brain, and it’s something that can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
You Have Irregular Heartbeat
Other than making your heart contract slowly, it’s also possible for potassium deficiency to trigger palpitations, which cause you to feel rapid, strong or irregular beatings of your heart. However, there are many different possible causes of palpitations, so make sure that you seek the help of a cardiologist.
You Have Hypertension
Potassium causes the walls of the blood vessels to relax, thus leaving your blood vessels dilated. Being deficient in the said mineral can keep your blood vessels from becoming dilated whenever necessary, and this can make your blood pressure rise, which is a no-no because it’s a risk factor for heart disease.
You Experience Pins and Needles
According to medical experts, potassium is also very important for keeping the nerves in tip-top shape. Not getting enough potassium via the diet can leave you with those annoying pins and needles in your extremities.
You are Constipated
Deficiency in potassium can slow down many bodily processes, including the evacuation of your bowels. In other words, you can end up constipated if you are not supplying your body with good amounts of potassium. It’s also very much likely for you to have abdominal pain and excess gas.
You can avoid all of these problems simply by including more potassium-rich foods in your diet on a regular basis. Some wonderful examples are fish, dark green leafy vegetables, beans, potatoes, mushrooms, dried apricots, avocados, plain yogurt and of course bananas!
Sources: diyhealthremedy.com
