Potassium

Potassium, an electrolyte found mainly in the fluid inside individual body cells, helps maintain water balance and acid-base balance along with sodium. In the blood, potassium assists in muscle contraction, including maintaining a normal heartbeat, and sending nerve impulses. Potassium is distributed widely in foods, both plant and animal. Unprocessed, whole foods such as fruits and vegetables (especially winter squash, potatoes, oranges, grapefruits, and bananas), milk, yogurt, legumes, and meats are excellent sources of potassium. A potassium deficiency is uncommon in healthy people but may result from dehydration, certain diseases, or drugs. Diuretics, a certain class of blood pressure drugs, cause increased urine output, and some cause an increased excretion of potassium as well. Symptoms of deficiency include muscle cramps, weakness, nausea, and abnormal heart rhythms that can be very dangerous, even fatal.