Potassium

Potassium is a essential nutrient for the human health system. Potassium is sometimes also referred to as electrolyte. Potassium is a soft silvery white metal, which usually occurs naturally in such elements as seawater and many earth minerals. It oxidizes quickly in air and is very active in water. Chemically sodium and potassium are very similar though they are used totally different by the human body. Potassium derives its name from potash where it first was found in.

Low potassium diets are not good for the body, they cause a low potassium level in the human plasma and this is usually called hypokalemia. Potassium deficiency includes symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, cramps and intestinal tract problems, which can cause bloating, constipation and abdominal pain. Effects of low potassium reach from muscular paralysis to abnormal heart rhythms all the way to death.

Recent broad studies in potassium have suggested that high potassium levels in the body and digesting potassium rich foods is associated with a decreased risk of stroke.

Other studies out on the scientific research field are referring to osteoporosis. The intake of foods high in potassium is related to the bone mineral density and has positive effect on the bone health. Even further research has shown that high potassium foods and high potassium levels in the body lower blood pressure if compared to people with relatively low potassium levels.

If you are looking for a small list of foods rich in potassium you came to the right place. Sources of potassium include especially all kinds of fruit and vegetables. Other high potassium food sources include meats, avocados, soybeans, potatoes and orange juice.

A list of foods high in potassium can also be found in the USDA food composition database.

Potassium is also used in a great variety of applications. Its primary use in the industry is as fertilizer for vegetables and grains in agriculture.

A form of potassium, potassium nitrate is used in gunpowder, sometimes also called salpeter.

Potassium carbonate, againa nother form of potassium known as potash is used in the glass manufacutring industry. Glass treated with liquid potassium is much stronger than regular glass.

In our everyday cooking potassium can appears as potassium chloride, a substitue for table salt, also used for executions as a solution by lethal injecction. Potassium bisulfate is a food preservative, used for bleaching of textiles, iised in wine and beer making and for the tanning of leather. Potassium chromates uses are for dying and staining, in explosives, fireworks and safety matches.