What is Potassium?

Potassium is a vital electrolyte and mineral responsible for playing a crucial role in maintaining our overall health. It’s essential for proper nerve function, muscle contraction and making sure the fluids and minerals in our body stay balanced.

Although vitamins like C and D are fairly well-known, potassium tends to slip under the radar. You may have heard the word before, but not many people know how important it is for us to keep our potassium levels up, which is where a chat with your community pharmacist could come in handy. If you’re not sure what potassium is, what it’s important for, and how to get it, pop into your local pharmacy today for a conversation with a licensed health professional about the things your body needs to thrive.

Where can I find it?

When it comes to sources of potassium, it is possible to get everything you need from your diet - as long as you’re eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, you should be fine. Bananas, oranges and avocados are a great source of potassium, as are leafy greens, tomatoes and potatoes. These healthy ingredients are also packed with plenty of the other vitamins and nutrients our bodies crave, so as long as you’re getting your five a day, you should be covered for potassium et al.

But if you’re not getting enough of it through diet alone, you might start to notice the side effects that flare up indicating potassium deficiency. Fatigue, muscle weakness or cramps, constipation and numbness or tingling are all signs that you need more potassium - but these are fairly common symptoms, so if you’re concerned about something that doesn’t feel right, make sure you speak to a medical professional - you’ll find one behind the counter at your local pharmacy, where the team has been trained to spot signs of potassium deficiency along with a number of other medical ailments. They’ll be able to point you in the right direction to get you the help you need, and it may be as straightforward as adding potassium supplements to your breakfast routine.

Should I be taking potassium?

It’s important to talk to a healthcare professional to determine how much potassium you need on a daily basis - the recommended amount for an adult is around 2,500 to 3,000mg per day, but age, sex, health status and activity level can impact that number.

We tend to lose potassium through sweat when we exercise, so if you’re on a fitness journey it’s important to replenish your potassium levels throughout the day. It’ll support your muscle function and help to prevent muscle cramps or weakness, so finding ways to include potassium rich foods in your diet or considering potassium supplementation might be a good fit.

If you’re concerned about blood pressure, potassium supplements might be beneficial, because they help to regulate your BP by counteracting the effects of sodium. This can help to lower your risk of hypertension and related heart problems - and it’ll have other overall benefits for your body too. Potassium can contribute to the maintenance of strong bones, reduce your risk of stroke, and can help to prevent kidney stones.

Your local pharmacy team are trained to be knowledgeable about medications and the way they can interact with other things that are going on inside your body. If you’re concerned about how potassium supplementation may interact with other medicines you’re taking, you should always speak to a pharmacist before you change your breakfast routine. Some medications can increase the amount of potassium you need to thrive, while others can cause potassium buildup - so it’s important to inform your healthcare provider and pharmacist about all medications you’re taking, so they can monitor your levels accordingly.

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For a healthy body all year round, check out your nearest chemist and have a chat with a friendly pharmacist to get to grips with the vitamins and minerals your body needs to work at full capacity on a daily basis.