Suppression
Potassium
Category: Natural chemicals
Type
Voluntary
Introduction and description
Potassium is a chemical element with symbol K (from Neo-Latin kalium). Naturally occurring potassium is composed of three isotopes, one of which, 40K, is radioactive. Traces (0.012%) of this isotope is found in all potassium making it the most common radioactive element in the human body. Potassium in nature occurs only in ionic salts. It is found dissolved in seawater (which is 0.04% potassium by weight), and is part of many minerals.
Generally Potassium is also found in many plants, but heavy crop production rapidly depletes soils of potassium, and agricultural fertilizers have to be used to supplement the poor soils – fertilisers consume 95% of global potassium chemical production.
Potassium is the eighth or ninth most common element by mass (0.2%) in the human body, so that a 60 kg adult contains a total of about 120 g of potassium. The body has about as much potassium as sulphur and chloride, and only the major minerals calcium and phosphorus are more abundant.
Diseases and illnesses caused by imbalance
Potassium ions are necessary for the function of all living cells. It is one of the key minerals used by the Physical nervous system. The section on Potassium imbalance describes the effects of either deficiency of potassium or of overdosing.
Sources of Potassium
There is some debate regarding the optimal amount of dietary potassium. For example, the 2004 guidelines of the Institute of Medicine specify a DRI of 4,700 mg of potassium (100 mEq). In fact this figure is a little meaningless unless we know the age and weight of the person or whether they are losing potassium. Most Americans consume only half that amount per day, which would make them formally deficient. In the European Union, in particular in Germany and Italy, insufficient potassium intake is said to be 'common'.
Dietary supplements such as solid tablets of potassium chloride can kill tissue and cause injury to the gastric or intestinal mucosa. [For this reason, non-prescription supplement potassium pills are limited by law in the US]. As such it is far better to get your potassium from food. The following foods contain potassium and are listed in order of potassium content. For more details see the USDA Nutrients database.
Leavening agents – such as baking powder and cream of tartar
Herbs – especially parsley, but also chervil, dill, coriander, tarragon, basil, mint, marjoram, oregano, sage, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves etc
Radishes
Red peppers and paprika pepper
Soy sauce, soya flour and soya beans
Chocolate [more specifically cocoa powder]
Seaweed – notably spirulina
Alliums - such as leeks, chives, onions
Yeast extract spreads such as Marmite
Spices – turmeric, cayenne pepper, cumin seed, fennel seed, saffron, anise, black pepper, ground ginger, coriander seed, cloves, fenugreek, mustard seed, poppy seed
Dried fruit – especially dried Apricots and dried peaches, but also prunes , currants, raisins, persimmons, figs, dates including Medjool dates
Beans – white beans, lima beans, kidney beans, soy beans, adzuki beans, mung beans, broad beans, split pees, lentils, chick peas
Mushrooms – shiitake
Wholegrains – especially wholegrain rice
Molasses
Fish – cod, smoked salmon, some shellfish, salmon, ling, mackerel, anchovy, herring, halibut
Seeds – many sorts including celery seed, caraway seeds, dill seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds,
Nuts – especially pistachio, but also gingko nuts, beechnuts, chestnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, pine nuts
Brassicas and other green vegetables – such as beet greens snd spinach, swiss chard
Worcester sauce - and tamarind [Worcester sauce contains tamarind]
Water chestnuts and bamboo shoots
Baked potatoes – with skin
Related observations
Healing observations
- Adzuki beans Nutrient content from USDA 006997
- Benefits of prunes 006752
- Broad bean Nutrients from USDA 006996
- Broccoli Nutrients from USDA database 007164
- Brussel sprouts Nutrients 007162
- Cabbage nutrients from USDA database 007160
- Cauliflower Nutrients from USDA database 007161
- Chickpea Nutrient content from USDA 006992
- Dairy products vitamins and mineral 005906
- Dr Duke's list of chemicals and activity for the Shallot 017969
- Dr Duke's list of Chemicals and their Biological Activities in: Morus alba L. (Moraceae) -- Sang-Pai-Pi, White Mulberry 027433
- Dr Duke's list of Chemicals and their Biological Activities in: Prunella vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae) -- Heal-All, Self-Heal 018270
- Dr Duke's list of Chemicals with Antistroke activity 020751
- Dr Duke's list of vasodilatory plant chemicals 010314
- Dr Duke’s list of Chemicals and their Biological Activities in: Cucurbita pepo L. (Cucurbitaceae) -- Zucchini 027494
- Effect of high potassium diet on endothelial function 020755
- Goodheart, George - On the Acid-Alkaline balance 011173
- Hack Tuke, Daniel – Sickness - Epilepsy induced by powerful emotions - terror 026071
- Kale Nutrient value from USDA 007035
- Kohlrabi Nutrients from USDA database 007163
- Lentils Nutrient content from USDA 006995
- Nutraceuticals for blood pressure control 017739
- Peas Nutrients according to USDA 006994
- Root vegetables and affordable nutrition 005537
- Sacred Lotus rhizome a summary of properties 010391
- Sacred Lotus seeds - a summary of effects 010393
- The heart and potassium 006981
- USDA Nutrients - Fish, anchovy, european, raw 012452
- USDA Nutrients - Fish, Cod 012455
- USDA Nutrients - Fish, Herring 012459
- USDA Nutrients - Fish, Mackerel 012472
- USDA Nutrients - Fish, Oysters 012458
- USDA Nutrients - Fish, Salmon 012487
- USDA Nutrients - Fish, Sardines 012453
- USDA Nutrients - Fish, Scallops 012457
- White beans Nutrients from USDA 006998
- White potatoes, human health, and dietary guidance 006265
Hallucination
Wisdom, Inspiration, Divine love & Bliss
- Bryson, Bill - On Minerals 018645
- Tree, Isabella - Wilding - We are suffering from nutritional deprivation 029105