But there’s more. As we age, the more we risk falling and breaking bones. One reason people fall is due to a condition called postural hypotension. This is a condition where your blood pressure drops too low when you suddenly stand up, producing a feeling of dizziness. When this type of low blood pressure has no medical cause, potassium is often marginally low. Getting enough potassium and eliminating this type of temporary low blood pressure could help you prevent falls.

Aging: You need sufficient potassium for all of your cells to work and live. When we’re talking about one dying cell out of trillions, this is insignificant. Betty Kamen, PhD, explains this in her excellent book, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Potassium But Were Too Tired to Ask (800-889-5767). “But another cell is compromised,” she explains, “and you are two cells older. Then three! Four! And more! Eventually, tissue is affected. Finally, an organ. Now it matters. Now your body notices. As you lose cellular efficiency, you age.”

In the past, I’ve talked about human growth hormone, a hormone that may well be the fountain of youth. This hormone decreases with age and affects how old you look and feel. Dr. Kamen found a correlation between lowered levels of human growth hormone and reduced potassium levels. To slow down the aging process of all your organs, you need plenty of potassium.

Lower sodium – raise potassium
Eat some vegetables with every lunch and dinner, even if it’s “only” a handful of baby carrots. Buy pre-washed vegetables and keep frozen vegetables handy. Eat unsalted sunflower seeds instead of salty nuts or chips, or mix salted with unsalted nuts. Read labels on all convenience foods you buy, even those in health food stores, and buy those with the lowest sodium. In time, your taste buds will adjust to them.

Before you supplement....
It’s smarter to get most of your potassium from food rather than from supplements. While you need around 2,000-2,500 mg of potassium a day, most supplements contain only 99 mg because in some people, too much can cause nausea and diarrhea. Rather than increase the amount of potassium in your supplements, modify your diet to provide you with enough of this important mineral.

Begin by decreasing your sodium intake and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. If you suspect that you have low potassium, ask your doctor to run a RBC (red blood cell) potassium test. The usual serum potassium blood test is not accurate because most potassium is in the red blood cells. Don’t take extra supplemental potassium if your kidneys are not functioning properly, if you’re taking the type of diuretic that retains potassium rather than depleting it, or if you’re on NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Shirley is a good example of someone who lacked sufficient potassium and ate too much sodium. She modified her diet and within two months she had much more energy. She also dropped most of her excess weight, her leg cramps decreased greatly, and her heart arrhythmias were almost non-existent. Getting more potassium and less sodium was Shirley’s answer to most of her health problems. Don’t be surprised if it’s an answer for you, too.

Freudenheim, J.Ll, N.E. Johnson, E.L. Smith. “Relationship between usual nutrient intake and bone mineral content of women 35-36 years of age.” Am J Clin Nutr, 1986:44:863.

Gaby, Alan R., MD. Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis, Rocklin, CA, Prima Publishing, 1994.