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 Potassium for Heart Health
- an Interview" with
Registered Dietician Terry Perry
By Mt. Capra Whole Food Nutritionals
During this interview we discuss the extraordinarily
important and often overlooked mineral and electrolyte known as
potassium for heart health.
As a Registered Dietitian, what experience have you had working with
potassium?
I would say that most of my work involving potassium has been with
patients that have a potassium deficiency due to medications they are
taking to control high blood pressure.
What kinds of foods are high in potassium?
 The best sources of potassium are foods that are closest to their
original state. Whole, unprocessed foods such as fruit and vegetables,
low fat dairy products, whole grains, fish and meat are great sources
of potassium. I’ve included this chart with some examples of foods
that are high in potassium.
What is the role of potassium?
Potassium is both an electrolyte and a mineral. As mineral potassium
works with sodium, calcium and magnesium to regulate the body’s water
balance, maintain normal heart rhythm and is responsible for sending
nerve impulses to contract muscles. Potassium works with calcium to
relax muscles as well as assists in regulating the acid base balance
in the body. It also helps release energy from protein and
carbohydrates. Potassium is necessary for the building of muscle and
for normal body growth.
What correlation does potassium have with heart health?
Potassium can affect heart health in several different ways. As an
electrolyte in the body, potassium helps to regulate heartbeat. Low
potassium levels can result in an irregular heartbeat. Another heart
condition that can affect potassium levels in the body is congestive
heart failure. When your body is retaining fluid as often happens with
heart failure, the doctor may recommend limiting how much liquid you
get. Many people are prescribed diuretics or water pills such as Lasix
to help them get rid of extra water and sodium and reduce the heart’s
work load. Along with the release of water and sodium goes potassium,
often resulting in a potassium deficiency Research has shown that
potassium may help lower blood pressure. The DASH study (Dietary
Approaches to Stop Hypertension) found that a diet that included 9-10
servings of fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products, whole
grains, low fat fish and poultry, beans, seeds and nuts significantly
reduced blood pressure in all subjects. Researchers believe that it is
the combination of foods high in potassium, magnesium, and calcium
that was effective in lowering blood pressure.
What are some symptoms of potassium deficiency?
Low potassium can have very serious side effects. The greatest losses
result from long term diarrhea, vomiting, or laxative use. Potassium
loss also comes from taking certain diuretics to treat high blood
pressure. Some of the symptoms of low potassium levels in the blood,
aka, hypokalemia, include muscle weakness, muscle aches, and muscle
cramps. You may even feel sick to your stomach, anxious, drowsy or
weak. Because potassium helps regulate heart rate, low levels may
cause irregular heart beat.
What kinds of drugs interfere with potassium?
Some diuretics may decrease your body’s supply of potassium. Drugs
used to treat heart disease or congestive heart failure such as
beta-blockers, ace inhibitors and calcium channel blockers can affect
potassium levels. Prednisone and Amino glycosides like Tobramycin can
cause low potassium levels.
What population is most at risk for a deficiency?
The most at risk are those with high blood pressure who are being
treated with non potassium sparing diuretics. Also at risk of
developing deficiency are people with gastrointestinal diseases that
cause frequent vomiting and diarrhea, patients with elevated
corticosteroid levels, either from medications like prednisone, or
from Cushing’s syndrome, and those with elevated levels of aldosterone.
Is there a set amount of potassium that should be ingested daily?
Because of potassium’s health benefits, the recommended adequate
intake of potassium for teens and adults is 4700 milligrams daily.
(The exception are people with kidney disease or severe congestive
heart failure, who may have trouble getting rid of the mineral and
must limit their intake).
What is the most desirable ratio of sodium to potassium?
Potassium is about twice as plentiful as sodium in the body. By far
the larger portion is found inside the cell, since potassium (K+) is
the major cation (positively charged ion) of the intracellular fluid.
However the relatively small amount in extra cellular fluid has a
significant effect on muscle activity, especially heart muscle.
What effect does canning fruits and vegetables have on their potassium
content?
Whether a food is cooked or put in a can it loses potassium.
Manufacturers add sodium to canned foods for flavor or as a
preservative, when we eat these foods; we deplete our potassium stores
to handle the excess sodium. Many researchers feel that the resulting
sodium-potassium imbalance is one reason why the U.S, incidence of
hypertension (high blood pressure) keeps climbing.
What are your thoughts on Mt. Capra’s Mineral Goat Whey for providing
a natural source of Potassium?
Capra Mineral Whey by Mt. Capra is a minimally processed, whole food
source of minerals and vitamins. It contains a unique blend of
potassium, phosphorous, sodium and magnesium. CMW uses a highly
concentrated alkaline formulation that does not upset the normal acid
base balance of the body. CMW provides nearly 1000mg of potassium per
serving! CMW comes from goats that are free of pesticides, herbicides,
and growth hormones. It is an ideal formula for people who cannot meet
their minerals needs in their daily diet.
Thanks so much for the education! Any final tips you could give our
readers for maintaining a healthy heart?
 Well you know if you make a habit of following a diet that includes
8-10 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables, low fat dairy products,
low fat sources of protein, such as fish, poultry, beans, and nuts is
a great way to lower your risk of high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, and stroke. Including plenty of foods rich in potassium,
calcium, and magnesium and phosphorous will help keep a healthy heart,
as well as keep you feeling great.
Terry Perry has been a Registered Dietician for over 25 years. Her
expertise ranges from disease prevention to nutrition education. Being
the former Chief Clinical Dietician of Holy Family Hospital in Spokane
WA, she has valuable experience that she has graciously agreed to
share in this interview.
Capra
Mineral Goat Whey is a 100% Natural, Mineral Rich, Electrolyte
replacement from Goat-Milk Whey. It contains more than 20 naturally
occurring minerals in a highly complex whole food and is a highly
concentrated alkaline mineral supplement. Mt. Capra goats are not fed
antibiotics or growth hormones and are never exposed to pesticides or
herbicides.
For
more product information, click here.
For more information about Mt. Capra Whole Food Nutritional products,
click here.
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