When talking about nutrition, more specifically about nutrients that our body needs, many think of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. I guess almost no one would think of potassium. To be honest before I decided to get a certificate in Fitness Nutrition I had basically no idea what potassium is or why we need it. Sure I had heard about it before and I guess I remembered something from high school but that was it. Potassium is a pretty under appreciated and important mineral for our body with a number of benefits. Keep on reading if you want to understand more about potassium.

What is potassium?

Potassium (K) is the key cation in our cells. Intracellular fluid contains most of the body’s potassium, with the highest amount in skeletal muscle cells. Potassium can also affect hypertension – in a different way. If people who suffer from a bad blood pressure change their diet and incorporate more fruits and vegetables their blood pressure often improves. Food processing tends to remove potassium and sodium, even if the potassium is not removed, adding sodium reduces the amount of potassium significantly. This is another factor why you should incorporate more fresh and un-processed foods into your diet. In some cases people with kidney problems should be mindful of their potassium intake – make sure you talk to your health care professional about it.

Why do we need potassium?

I bet you are thinking of bananas, but they are not the only way to get your potassium intake up. Here are some great examples of potassium:

• White beans, canned
• Raisins, seedless
• Potato, baked with skin
• Spinach
• Lentils, cooked
• Pumpkin, cooked
• Mushrooms
• Bananas
• Sweet potatoes
• Chickpeas, cooked
• Halibut, cooked
• Corn
• Carrots