We’re on a product blast and we aren’t stopping until every one of our readers knows exactly what each of our products can do for them. Potassium is one of the most effective minerals used in our bodies, but often doesn’t get enough attention. We have 2 products that can not only increase your potassium, but can also increase multiple vitamins and your vitality.
The importance of Potassium
Potassium is necessary for the normal functioning of all cells. It regulates the heartbeat, ensures proper function of the muscles and nerves, and is vital for synthesizing protein and metabolizing carbohydrates.
Thousands of years ago, when humans roamed the earth gathering and hunting, potassium was abundant in the diet, while sodium was scarce. The so-called Paleolithic diet delivered about 16 times more potassium than sodium. Today, most Americans get barely half of the recommended amount of potassium in their diets. The average American diet contains about twice as much sodium as potassium, because of the preponderance of salt hidden in processed or prepared foods, not to mention the dearth of potassium in those foods. This imbalance, which is at odds with how humans evolved, is thought to be a major contributor to high blood pressure, which affects one in three American adults.
The adequate intake recommendation for potassium is 4,700 mg. Bananas are often touted as a good source of potassium, but other fruits (such as apricots, prunes, and orange juice) and vegetables (such as squash and potatoes) also contain this often-neglected nutrient.
The effect of potassium on high blood pressure
Diets that emphasize greater potassium intake can help keep blood pressure in a healthy range, compared with potassium-poor diets. The DASH trial (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) compared three regimens. The standard diet, approximating what many Americans eat, contained an average of 3.5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables, which provided 1,700 mg of potassium per day. There were two comparison diets: a fruit- and vegetable-rich diet that included an average of 8.5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables, providing 4,100 mg of potassium per day, and a “combination” diet that included the same 8.5 servings of fruits and vegetables plus low-fat dairy products and reduced sugar and red meat.
In people with normal blood pressure, the fruit- and vegetable-rich diet lowered blood pressure by 2.8 mm Hg (in the systolic reading) and 1.1 mm Hg (in the diastolic reading) more than the standard diet. The combination diet lowered blood pressure by 5.5 mm Hg and 3.0 mm Hg more than the standard diet. In people with high blood pressure, the combination diet reduced blood pressure even more, by as much as 11 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure and 5.5 mm Hg in diastolic pressure.
Potassium and stroke risk
High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for strokes, so it’s no surprise that higher potassium is also associated with a lower stroke incidence. One prospective study that followed more than 43,000 men for eight years found that men who consumed the highest amounts of dietary potassium (a median of 4,300 mg per day) were 38% less likely to have a stroke as those whose median intake was just 2,400 mg per day.
However, a similar prospective study that followed more than 85,000 women for 14 years found a more modest association between potassium intake and the risk of strokes. Additional research has mostly upheld these findings, with the strongest evidence to support high dietary potassium seen in people with high blood pressure and in blacks, who are more prone to high blood pressure than whites.
Potassium is one of the seven essential macrominerals. The human body needs potassium to support key processes.
Potassium plays a role in the function of the kidneys, the heart, the muscles, and the transmission of messages through the nervous system.
Below, we investigate how much potassium a person needs per day. We also explore the nutrient’s functions in the body, good sources of potassium, and the effects of consuming too much or too little.
Recommended intake
Share on PinteresThe table below shows specific reccommendations for different age groups.
| Age | Male | Female |
| 0–6 months | 400 mg/day | 400 mg/day |
| 7–12 months | 860 mg/day | 860 mg/day |
| 1–3 years | 2,000 mg/day | 2,000 mg/day |
| 4–8 years | 2,300 mg/day | 2,300 mg/day |
| 9–13 years | 2,500 mg/day | 2,300 mg/day |
| 14–18 years | 3,000 mg/day | 2,300 mg/day |
| 19+ years | 3,400 mg/day | 2,600 mg/day |
Benefits
Potassium is an electrolyte that the body needs to stay healthy. As the American Heart Association (AHA) note, foods that contain potassium can help manage blood pressure by reducing the negative impact of sodium.
Having high sodium levels can increase the risk of high blood pressure. In healthy people, potassium lowers this risk by helping the body remove sodium. It also helps manage blood pressure by relaxing the walls of the blood vessels.
Bone and muscle maintenance
Potassium may play a role in bone health. Studies have suggested that people who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables that contain potassium may have higher bone mineral density.
However, confirming this will require more research. If the finding is true, researchers will also need to discover the reason behind it and whether supplements have the same effect.
A diet high in potassium may also help preserve muscle mass in older people and people who have health conditions that lead to muscle wasting.
Kidney health
In healthy individuals, low potassium levels may inhibit the kidneys’ ability to reabsorb calcium. High calcium levels in the kidneys can result in kidney stones.
However, people with kidney failure should not consume too much potassium, as it could have a negative impact. In this case, a doctor will recommend how much potassium to include in the diet.
Food sources
Potassium is present in many plant-based foods, but processing reduces the levels of this nutrient. Anyone with a diet high in processed foods may have a low potassium intake.
Many processed foods are also high in sodium, so a person with a highly processed diet may need to increase their potassium intake accordingly.
| Food type | Amount of potassium (mg) | Percentage of Daily Value |
| A half-cup of dried apricots | 1,101 | 23% |
| 1 cup of cooked lentils | 731 | 16% |
| A half-cup of dried prunes | 699 | 15% |
| 1 cup of mashed acorn squash | 644 | 14% |
| A medium baked potato, no skin | 610 | 13% |
| 1 cup of canned kidney beans | 607 | 13% |
| 1 cup of orange juice | 496 | 11% |
| A half-cup of boiled soy beans | 443 | 9% |
| A medium banana | 422 | 9% |
| 1 cup of 1% milk | 366 | 8% |
Supplements
In most cases, a healthy diet provides enough potassium, especially if the diet is low in sodium.
- manage blood pressure
- prevent stroke
- prevent kidney stones
- boost bone health
- manage blood glucose levels
However, confirming that potassium supplements can help treat or prevent these health issues will require more research.
Deficiency
A potassium deficiency, or hypokalemia, can lead to various health problems, including:
- high blood pressure
- a risk of kidney stones
- low calcium levels in the bones
For an otherwise healthy person, a deficiency involves having potassium levels lower than 3.6 millimoles per liter (mmol/l)Trusted Source of blood serum. This cutoff point is lower for people with kidney disease.
A person with a mild potassium deficiency may experience:
- constipation
- fatigue
- muscle weakness
- a general feeling of being unwell, or “malaise”
If potassium levels fall below 2.5 mmol/l in an otherwise healthy person, doctors consider this to be a moderate to severe deficiency. It can lead to:
- a high urine production
- glucose intolerance
- muscular paralysis
- breathing problems
- changes in heart rhythm, in people with heart disease
- confusion, in people with kidney disease
So, What Can You Do?
Elite offers 2 products that increase all things HEALTHY in your body…which correlates into healthy potassium levels.
Glutathione-Game Time!
Glutathione is a peptide found in plants and animals. It is a powerful antioxidant produced by the liver to protect the body against free radicals, peroxides, and heavy metals. Glutathione also eliminates poisons such as drugs and pollutants from our bodies.
Low glutathione levels have been associated with higher risks of cancer, Type 2 diabetes, hepatitis, and Parkinson’s disease. You can take glutathione as a supplement or boost glutathione production in the body. Taking curcumin, selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin E can help the liver create glutathione. Sulfur-containing foods like meat and certain vegetables can also boost production.
Health Benefits
Glutathione is essential for the immune system’s proper functioning and is vital in building and repairing tissue. It acts as an important antioxidant, which helps protect your body from damage to cells caused by free radicals.
One unique thing about glutathione is that the body is able to make it in the liver, which is not true of most antioxidants.
Glutathione has many important functions, including:
- making DNA, the building blocks of proteins and cells
- supporting immune function
- forming sperm cells
- breaking down some free radicals
- helping certain enzymes function
- regenerating vitamins C and E
- transporting mercury out of the brain
- helping the liver and gallbladder deal with fats
- assisting regular cell death (a process known as apoptosis)
Meyers Cocktail
How Does The Meyers Cocktail Work?
Vitamin B12 provides brain, blood, bones, and eye health, as well as the regulation of mood and energy levels. Meanwhile, vitamin C helps to boost immunity, support iron absorption, and reduce risk factors associated with heart disease. Magnesium regulates blood pressure, supports the immune system, and helps with nerve and muscle function.
Intravenous nutrient therapy allows for high doses of these ingredients to be delivered straight into the bloodstream. The Myers Cocktail has been used to treat asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other long-term conditions. There have also been positive reports about its ability to relieve fatigue, migraines, and upper respiratory tract infections. Let’s look at some of the benefits in greater detail.
A Healthier Circulatory System
Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C can reduce risk factors for high blood pressure and other cardiovascular illnesses. These vitamins work together to improve heart health. Vitamin C can reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in the body, and cholesterol is a significant risk factor for heart disease.
Improved Nerve Health
Some people who have fibromyalgia also find the Myers Cocktail helpful. That’s likely because Vitamin B12 and magnesium play a major role in nerve health. A deficiency in Vitamin B12 can lead to nerve damage that causes fibromyalgia.
Greater Ability to Beat Colds and Flus
Many people get the Myers Cocktail because they want to improve their immunity or stop getting the cold or flu so frequently. The high dose of Vitamin C in the vitamin drip is responsible for this benefit.
Disease Prevention
Vitamin C fights free radicals which are responsible for cellular damage and a variety of diseases. When you have low levels of free radicals in your body, your general health improves, and you contract diseases.
Improved Memory
Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C deficiencies can cause poor memory. Even in people who don’t have deficiencies, low vitamin levels can affect recall. The brain naturally loses neurons with age, but the process can slow down. Regular treatments with the Myers Cocktail can ensure your brain cells remain healthy.
Here’s the Thing…
When you increase vitamins C, E, B12 and minerals like magnesium, you increase your potassium levels as well. It’s important to understand that you can take a potassium supplement all day long, but if you’re deficient in the others, your potassium will vanish into thin air. It MUST be supported. If you live anywhere there is a hotter climate, you can almost be sure your potassium levels are low. Sweating (even for a few little drops) can deplete your body of potassium. Therefore, making sure you have an adequate amount of the necessary vitamins is key. Our Glutathione and Meyers WILL take your body to the next level of health.
Tip of the Day…
Watermelon!! Who doesn’t love a nice, juicy slice of cold watermelon on a hot summer day? Go ahead, grab a slice without any guilt whatsoever. You won’t only increase your potassium, but you can’t help but smile and feel a little bit better. The Watermelon Festival is celebrated in 15 states…can you guess which ones? Cheers to doin the Watermelon Crawl!!!!
