Potassium supplement??

[sweetz0625]

Hey everyone,
I was wondering if we should take potassium supplements? I read on that anti atkins website and they said that some people died due to lack of electrolytes. And also Terry Schiavo also became went into comotosis due to her lack of electrolytes. So if you could please answer my question, and also how much I would really appreciate it.
Thanks
Christi

[cleochatra]

Re: Potassium supplement??

I take a potassium supplement, as there is not potassium in my multivitamin. The bottle tells you to generally take one per day, and I probably bought my Nature-Made from Wal-Mart.

[moongirl]

Re: Potassium supplement??

I use Nu-Salt (a salt substitute) to add potassium to my diet. It's less expensive than pill-form, and has the added benefit of helping me (salt addict) keep my sodium intake under control. There are other brands of salt substitute available that are also composed of potassium chloride.

[ttdriver]

Re: Potassium supplement??

Morton Lite Salt is potassium chloride as well and it tastes just like regular salt!

Betty

[matawguro]

Re: Potassium supplement??

The typical Atkins meal has lots of potassium rich foods such as meats, fish, and veggies. While the initial diuretic effect during early induction might cause potassium deficiency, following the Atkins WOE alone wont't lead to a deficiency. There are other causes of potassium deficiency that have little to do with Atkins.

For more info, follow this link...

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/002413.htm

Food Sources Fish such as salmon, cod, flounder, and sardines are good sources of potassium. Various other meats also contain potassium.

Vegetables including broccoli, peas, lima beans, tomatoes, potatoes (especially their skins), and leafy green vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and parsley contain potassium.

Fruits that contain significant sources of potassium are citrus fruits, apples, bananas, and apricots. Dried apricots contain more potassium than fresh apricots.


Side Effects

A deficiency of potassium (hypokalemia) can occur in people with chronic disease or as a result of the aging process. The most common problems associated with reduced potassium levels are hypertension, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, depression, and fatigue.

A variety of conditions can cause the loss of potassium from the body. The most common of these conditions are vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems.

Hypokalemia can also be caused when too much water is taken in too quickly in conjunction with heavy perspiration -- for example, in an overzealous attempt to prevent dehydration during sports. This can affect marathon runners and other serious athletes.

Kidney disease (such as acute renal failure) and diabetes, depending on the stage of either, can also cause fluctuations in the levels of potassium. Additionally, many medications can cause depletion of potassium. Examples include diuretics, cortisone, prolonged use of aspirin, and laxatives.

The most common symptom of potassium depletion is fatigue. Other symptoms of potassium deficiency include slow reflexes, muscle weakness, and dry skin. A quick loss of potassium could lead to cardiac arrhythmias.

Severe potassium deficiency symptoms include decreased heart rate, extreme muscle weakness, bone fragility and, if untreated, death. A low level of potassium can be determined with a blood test and can be treated with potassium supplements.

Increased levels of potassium in the blood is known as hyperkalemia. Some common causes of this are reduced renal (kidney) function, an abnormal breakdown of protein, and severe infection. If there is no pathological cause for increased potassium levels, the kidneys are able to handle a large amount of potassium, and prevent the blood levels from increasing.

Recommendations

There is no recommended daily allowance for potassium, although experts recommend approximately 2 to 2.5 grams per day. The average American diet provides 2 to 6 grams of potassium per day.

Over-the-counter potassium supplements provide 99 milligrams of potassium per tablet. Potassium supplementation should never be taken without the approval of a health care provider.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Potassium supplement??

before you go potassium crazy talk with your doctor and find out how much you need. Too much potassium is just as fatal as too little.

I needed based on my blood tests 3 OTC potassium pills back when I was doing my induction and extended induction under 20 net carbs for 7 months but when i moved to OWl I only needed 1 and at premaintnenace I didn't need any so check with your doc about how much you do or don't need.

You can track your food potassium if you are using www.fitday.com in your reports section and see how much you are getting in your foods.

Happy low carbing.