Unleashing The Power of Potassium to Fix Your Metabolism
An under-appreciated, over-powered nutrient
Potassium is one of the elements of the periodic table. It is one of what we call the four "macro minerals" in the hair tissue mineral analysis, and it is in fact the element that you arguably need the MOST of in your diet.
Yet the science of potassium biochemistry is murkey and not much talked about.
Why is this?
Because potassium is dirt cheap. You can pick up kilos of potassium bicarbonate for dollars - even in 2024! You can get grams of potassium from simple foods like bananas, potatoes, and tomatoes for less than a dollar per serving.
Yet potassium is one of my favorite elements, because of how powerful a healer it is.
Before we go any further, I have to make a quick disclaimer.
IF YOU HAVE KIDNEY DISEASE, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE INCREASING YOUR POTASSIUM INTAKE. IF YOUR KIDNEYS ARE NOT ABLE TO EXCRETE POTASSIUM, INCREASING YOUR POTASSIUM INTAKE COULD BE FATAL.
Even if you don't have kidney disease, this blog isn't meant to be medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before making changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Why am I convinced that potassium is a critical element for optimal health and performance?
First, because potassium is one of the most abundant minerals in the human body. It's one of the key elements for all life on earth. Potassium is one of the key ingredients in modern fertilizers, because it helps plants grow quickly. Potatoes were included in the Gerson Diet (one of the earliest diets used to treat cancer) partly because of their potassium content.
Second, because as we age, potassium stores within the body decline. I'm not talking about blood potassium levels. These are included in almost any routine bloodwork, but are next to useless in judging whole body potassium stores. Judging whole body mineral stores from blood levels is a lot like judging someone's net worth based on their checking account. Even a millionaire can overdraw their checking account, but this doesn't make them broke.
Third, because potassium is essential for energy generation within cells. It works with magnesium in many ways, and one of the reasons for recalcitrant magnesium deficiency is actually potassium deficiency. The body needs large amounts of potassium to function optimally.
Fourth, because potassium intake correlates inversely with all-cause mortality. In other words, the more potassium you eat, the lower your risk of death. I would say this is the strongest argument possible in favor of increasing your potassium intake.
Fifth, because adequate levels of potassium are necessary to maintain optimal levels of magnesium. In other words, you will have recalcitrant, recurrent, and seemingly intractable magnesium deficiency if you are low in potassium.
Could this be part of why so many of you can't get off your magnesium supplements?!
Learn more in my article on what to do about a low magnesium level:
So how much potassium does the average person need? How much are they getting? How can they optimize their potassium intake?
Answers to all these questions and more are what we'll cover in the rest of this article. How I harness the power of potassium is something I'm only sharing with premium subscribers. Why? Because the benefits far exceed the cost of the yearly subscription to the premium version of this Substack. Upgrade today and find out what you're missing.