Dr. Berg’s Healthy Keto and Intermittent Fasting Podcast

The POTASSIUM Epidemic: Dr. Berg Explains Symptoms, Signs, Diet, Causes, and Treatment

Oct 2, 2023

08:37

Snipd AI

The podcast discusses the importance of potassium in the body and the consequences of its deficiency, including high blood pressure, increased risk of stroke, and bone loss. It highlights the inadequate potassium intake from the average diet and the limitations of potassium supplements. The chapter also explores the causes of potassium deficiency, such as medication use, stress, and high-carb diets. Furthermore, it emphasizes the negative effects of fast food and suggests consuming high-potassium foods for better health.

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Quick takeaways

Potassium is essential for the sodium-potassium pump, which helps with muscle contraction and nerve cell functions, making it crucial to consume potassium-rich foods.

Potassium deficiency can lead to various health issues such as high blood pressure, increased stroke risk, fluid retention, and bone loss, and can be caused not only by inadequate dietary intake but also by factors like medication use, chronic stress, and high insulin levels.

Deep dives

The Importance of Potassium in Our Body

Potassium is a crucial nutrient that plays a vital role in various bodily functions. It is necessary for the sodium-potassium pump, a vital enzyme present in nerve cells, muscle cells, arteries, the heart, and kidneys. This pump helps move electrical impulses and aids in muscle contraction. Although the recommended daily intake of potassium is 4,700 milligrams, evidence suggests that humans in the Stone Age consumed around 15,000 milligrams daily. Potassium deficiency can have significant consequences, such as weakness, fatigue, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, increased stroke risk, fluid retention, and even loss of bone and kidney stones. Consuming potassium-rich foods, like leafy greens, is crucial to maintaining adequate potassium levels.

Introduction

5min

The Importance of Potassium and Common Deficiency Causes

2min

The Negative Effects of Fast Food and the Importance of Potassium

2min

Let’s talk about the importance of potassium and what can happen if you don’t get enough.

Your body requires a lot of potassium. The daily requirement for potassium is 4700 mg.

Potassium is important for the sodium-potassium pump. The sodium-potassium pump is like a battery for your cells.

Vegetables are the best source of potassium. One cup of leafy greens provides between 500 and 800 mg of potassium. If you consumed five to ten cups of vegetables daily, you would get plenty of potassium. In comparison, a banana only provides about 300 mg of potassium. Bananas also contain a lot of fructose.

Unfortunately, the average person is not getting enough potassium from their diet—and potassium supplements typically only give you up to 99 mg of potassium per tablet.

Potassium deficiency is often overlooked. It’s difficult to diagnose, and symptoms of a potassium deficiency are sometimes vague. Early symptoms often include difficulty breathing, fatigue, and heart palpitations.

A more severe deficiency in potassium can lead to the following:

• High blood pressure

• Increased risk of stroke

• Fluid retention or edema

• Bone loss

• Kidney stones

Causes of potassium deficiency that go beyond a lack of potassium in the diet can include:

• Penicillin

• Diuretics

• Steroids

• Chronic stress

• High insulin (high-carb diet)

• Refined or processed foods

Even the keto diet and prolonged fasting can lead to a potassium deficiency if not done correctly. You will lose potassium as you lose water weight on keto. Consuming enough potassium on keto and taking a potassium supplement while doing a prolonged fast is crucial.

Eating too much too quickly after a prolonged fast or consuming too many carbs after a prolonged fast can also cause a severe potassium deficiency, which can be dangerous.

My challenge for you is to start consuming a lot of foods high in potassium, like leafy greens, for one week and see how you feel. I think you're going to notice a big difference.

DATA:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26948...

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org...

Online Keto Coaching: Personalized consultation with Dr. Berg, send an email to drericberg@hotmail.com for booking.