New Delhi, October 13 (IANS). Potassium is a mineral which can rightly be called the ‘silent hero’ of the body.
In Ayurveda it is called Kshar element, which balances Vata and Pitta doshas and keeps the energy flow of the body in balance. It is an essential electrolyte mineral that plays an important role in heartbeat, muscle movement, brain signaling, and maintaining water balance in the body.
Potassium acts as a protector for the heart. It helps the heart muscles to contract regularly, thereby maintaining a normal heartbeat. Its deficiency can cause irregular heartbeat or increase the risk of heart attack.
Apart from this, it also helps in controlling blood pressure, because it balances the effect of sodium. Therefore, the mantra for people with high blood pressure is less sodium and more potassium.
Potassium also helps in proper coordination of muscles and nervous system. Problems like fatigue, weakness, irritability or confusion are often caused by its deficiency. Apart from this, it helps in keeping the kidneys healthy and removes acidic waste from the body.
An adult person needs about 3500-4700 mg of potassium daily. This amount may be slightly different in children, teenagers and pregnant women. A lack of potassium is called hypokalemia, which can cause muscle cramps, fatigue, constipation, irregular heartbeat, drowsiness, or even trouble breathing. Its deficiency for a long time can have adverse effects on the heart, kidneys and nervous system.
Talking about good natural sources, you can get potassium in abundance from banana, orange, coconut water, spinach, sweet potato, moong dal, curd, dates and raisins.
Each banana provides about 422 mg of potassium, which means that two bananas fulfill about 20 percent of your daily requirement.
–IANS
PIM/AS