[caroline2]

I've questioned the potassium issue for a long time. When we are deficient in potassium we are MORE FATIGUED for starters.

The other day in my doctor's office my BP was too high. Granted I was under added stress from a thyroid shortage I was dealing with and locating her new office location. Plus I had cut one BP med in half for some months and thought I was OK, guess not. But also the potassium issue.

She said are you getting enough potassium? I thought I was BUT talking to a friend today and she deals with CFS, she said she takes over 1000 mg most days spread thru the day besides the foods she consume. Then she told me the RDA and I was in shock.

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/rda-...sium-3894.html

Folate and thiamine pull potassium from our bodies. And I take both these supplements...so a double double whammy I think.

So I'm upping my potassium even more gradually as I know for sure I'm not getting enough with foods. Do your research, talk to your doctors etc.

[caroline2]

Just recovering from a major fatigue meltdown. And realized I'm not having my normal amount of avacodos lately and forgot to take my COQ10 this morning. So took 500mg of the potassium I use and got a pretty instant lift.

[Vowel Lady]

Don't forget that post from long ago about how V8 juice (reduced salt prob best) has a lot of potassium.

I have discovered a very refreshing drink that I make myself when dieting. I have my suspicions that when I diet, I tend to not take in sufficient potassium.

Mix in a glass:

1/3 Vitamin Water Zero Revive Fruit Punch (lots of potassium!)
1/3 Iced Tea (plain)
1/3 Water

This is usually sweet enough, but sometimes I add 1/2 packet of Truvia.

Anyway, I mix this all in a glass and find it absolutely delicious, hydrating and it has a decent amount of potassium in it without a lot of calories. Actually, it probably has zero calories.

[kiwi33]

The Adequate Intake for potassium is about 4.5 g/day for adults.

This is discussed here (including physiology, roles in disease prevention and treatment, food sources, safety issues and drug interactions) Potassium | Linus Pauling Institute | Oregon State University.

[mrsD]

Self medicating with potassium may be dicey for some people.

Renal tubular acidosis can be present and potassium is involved with this. One type there can be too much postassium (conserved by the kidney) and another type can be potassium wasting. So having medical testing is important if you supplement potassium. This is one reason why potassium supplements are limited by the FDA to 99mg per tablet.

Renal Tubular Acidosis - Genitourinary Disorders - Merck Manuals Professional Edition

Chronic diarrhea also wastes potassium as the body stores potassium for short periods of time in the large colon...and then resorbs it to help balance serum fluctuations from food intake. If the transit time in the colon is accelerated, this potassium is lost. And if a blood test results in lysed red blood cells (which is common) the test itself may show a false positive elevation. This is very common and you can Google it, further.

[caroline2]

Just recently I noticed a little more fatigue than normal and thought ah, the potassium link and again realizing the RDA for women daily is 5100mg, one has to eat a lot of potassium rich foods to get near there....So what I'm going to do for a while is take 2-99mg tabs with several meals/snacks daily and see how I feel.

The link I'm posting mentions 8 signs of potassium deficiency and one listed is Stiffness and my damaged knee is sure stiff, maybe more potassium will loosen it up.

8 Signs and Symptoms of Potassium Deficiency (Hypokalemia)

I'm also drinking a glass of low sodium V8 with a bit of water dilution but not every day as it's so filling. A glass contains about 800mg potassium.

The supplement I'm using is potassium gluconate.

Don't overdo it, but don't underdo potassium.

I've eliminated bananas as I believe they are overrated for what we get, and higher in carbs and sugar.

Since I posted this link I've made it to 81.

[caroline2]

It's always good to have bloodwork done on potassium levels, my levels always comes in on low end of range. I've found lately when I take 200-300 mg (2-3 tabs) I am much more energized when I wake -up after's night of good sleep, and when I skip this dose, I feel like I was run over by a Mack truck in the morning. So I'm doing the before bed dose.

I know I don't get the RDA of potassium daily.

Do your due diligence on this subject.

[Lara]

Please check first with your Doctor if you're going to take Potassium supplements. Some people can not deal with it. mrsD's post above talks about some of that.

Edited to add more info } Should I take a potassium supplement? - Harvard Health

[caroline2]

Bringing this up again, one of my favorite health topics. And remember the general RDA for potassium as I mentioned above, I just don't believe I get that in my foods, so I supplement. If I could drink low sodium V8 a lot during the day it would make a nice difference, I know when I drink one glass I feel energized instantly.

[caroline2]

Originally Posted by Lara

Please check first with your Doctor if you're going to take Potassium supplements. Some people can not deal with it. mrsD's post above talks about some of that.

Edited to add more info } Should I take a potassium supplement? - Harvard Health

Always good to discuss with qualified MD, many are not I've found in my life. I have done my own research on it all for decades and yes it's good to get a lab done on potassium and even if in the range, one can be in low end and have a lot of issues from low potassium. I make sure my magnesium intake is adequate also.