Unlock Incredible Energy and Gut Health Benefits: Why Potassium is Essential
Have you ever felt fatigued, especially after a hard workout or a long day even though you are eating ‘healthy’ and drinking plenty of water? You may not have realized it, but there's a good chance it had something to do with your potassium levels. Potassium is an essential mineral that most don't get nearly enough of. Actually, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 90% of Americans don't get enough of the recommended amount of potassium in their diets. This is for sure contributing to dehydration, slow metabolism, fatigue, gut issues and more. Keep reading to learn about which foods to add to your diet, and how much you really should be getting each day to feel your best.
First, my personal favorite sources of potassium:
Berries
Oranges
Orange Juice
Strawberries
Kiwi
Apples
Sweet potatoes
Cooked and cooled russet potatoes
Beets (yes, I know I am alone on that one)
Beans
Peas
Meat
Beef sticks
There are a lot more healthy sources of carbs that are a good source of potassium! Those are just the ones I love to eat almost every day or have in my weekly line up. I love getting clients to incorporate these foods as well because they are typically just drained and not making enough energy because they have been avoiding these foods. We create a plan to slowly add healthy carbs so they can get more energy, balance their hormones and promote better gut health. Yes, these carbs are SO important for all of those bodily functions because of the potassium levels they contain.
When I first meet with my clients, I see symptoms that point to low potassium levels and then it is typically confirmed when we get the hair and mineral test back. Most of my clients come to me in the burnout phase so I can almost guarantee their mineral ratios are out of balance. Why do you ask? Because most of my clients have been in the low-carb dieting cycle where they have been avoiding these types of food for months or even YEARS. It’s honestly so sad that the diet culture has demonized these foods when they are so incredible for your overall wellness. I hate that so many people try to do the ‘right thing’ by going on low carb to lose weight, but have been led down a path of total burn out.
And here is why low-carb (so typically low potassium too) leads to burn out and a collection of unpleasant symptoms. Potassium plays a role in:
Carb and protein metabolism
Creating energy
Proper hydration
DNA health
Vitamin B6 production (which B6 also helps with metabolism, boosts the immune system and regulating blood sugar)
Heart Health
Proper stomach acid (this is a BIG one for my clients that have stomach issues)
If I haven’t convinced you yet on how important potassium is, remember that potassium is found on literally every cell in the body. So when it’s depleted you WILL feel it and symptoms will arise. The good news is that we can easily increase it daily, BUT be sure to increase your sodium intake too. That just means if you don’t eat a lot of processed foods (which is the goal), be sure to add sea salt to your food while you’re cooking to have a balance of these important minerals.
It’s also important to note that the daily recommendations for optimal potassium intake is 4,000-6,000 mg/day. Most Americans get less than ~3,000 mg/day so you can wonder why I see so many clients with low potassium. Note: You don’t have to necessarily count your minerals every day, but if you like things to be more black and white you can use the app chronometer. It is a paid app, but it shows you the level of minerals you get from your food. This can be helpful to see how much you’re currently eating and where you can improve. I help my clients with this as well!
Curious about your mineral status? Do you need help with more energy, gut health and what foods to eat? Apply to work with me and we will get you allllll the labs you need to see how your body is functioning and what minerals YOUR body needs to thrive. You know you’re ready to take the next step when you’re tired of googling and hoping what you find will work for you. This program will get specific on what YOUR body needs and take the guesswork out of it. Click the link and fill out the brief application!
Discover the power of a healthy metabolism by joining my free nutrition class that launches April 18th! By the end of the class you’ll have 5 strategic steps that will put you on track to the health you always wanted! Join the list to get access to the class on April 18th. I can’t wait to start your transformation!
Sources:
https://integrative.ca/blog/3-phases-detoxification
Hormone Healing RD Podcast, Are you Menstrual?
FNP Institute by Robyn Johnson
Dinicolantonio, James Dr. . The Mineral Mix. Slim Land, 2021.
