Some high potassium foods include artichokes, lima beans, lentils, potatoes, raisins, prunes, and many other foods. These natural sources of potassium are an essential part of kidney health, and they also provide the body with electrolytes. While many people do not consume enough high potassium foods, others may need to decrease the amount of potassium consumed.
People who have kidney problems or diabetes may be advised to stay away from high potassium foods. This is due to the fact that people who suffer from certain physical ailments cannot digest potassium properly. Therefore, these people must choose low potassium foods such as apples, grapes, plums, and cranberries. Likewise, some people do not eat enough high potassium foods, and these people must make a point of including some of the aforementioned foods in their everyday diets.
Frequently, athletes do not ingest enough high potassium foods. Since athletes often produce a great amount of sweat, foods that are high in potassium are needed in order to replenish any lost bodily fluids. As previously mentioned, high potassium foods include a large amount of electrolytes that are helpful when it comes to hydrating the body. In fact, this is precisely why many sports drinks include electrolytes, though the same ions can be found within foods that contain a large amount of potassium.
For various reasons, the amount of potassium included in packaged foods is not always clearly labeled throughout the world. Therefore, it is important to know which foods contain potassium naturally. While making sure that potassium-rich foods are a part of one's daily diet, it is not a good idea to increase or decrease the amount of potassium consumed without a medical consultation. Drastically increasing the amount of potassium included in one's diet may lead to kidney problems, while decreasing potassium levels may lead to fatigue and general muscle weakness.
In fact, people who do not consume enough potassium-rich foods often feel weak. This feeling is often accompanied by an extreme amount of fatigue. Still, anyone experiencing these symptoms should speak with a medical doctor in lieu of increasing the amount of potassium consumed. While weakness is one symptom of a diet low in potassium, there are many different reasons why a person may suddenly feel weak. Generally, potassium can be gained by eating foods that have a large amount of potassium in them. On occasion, a medical doctor may prescribe potassium supplements to those who require them.