by Deirdre Layne Published October 15, 2020
Potassium is an essential mineral that assists your body in many ways. An electrolyte, potassium helps nerves function correctly, regulates muscle contractions, and assists fluid balance.
While people mostly have adequate potassium levels, it is not uncommon to get hypokalemia, or low blood potassium, throughout your life and regardless of age. Many things can cause low blood potassium.
This article explains what causes low potassium, symptoms you can get from low blood potassium, and the fastest way to fix it.
What Causes Low Potassium?
Hypokalemia occurs when the amount of potassium in your blood is lower than normal. Low blood potassium can be caused by the following:
- Alcohol Use
- Excessive Sodium from Junk or Fast Food
- Detoxifying Herbs and Supplements
- Heavy Metal Poisoning
- Diarrhea
- Diabetes
- Folate Deficiency
- Vomiting
- Diuretics (any substance that reduces water retention like supplements, celery juice, and water pills)
- Blood Loss from Menstruation or Wounds
- Antibiotics
- Laxatives
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Low Magnesium
- Sweating
- Certain Diets
- Bulimia
- Bartter Syndrome
- Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis
Low Potassium Symptoms You Need to Know
The sudden onset of an ailment, such as tooth nerve sensitivity or debilitating muscle cramps that feel like bone fractures, can often indicate a potassium loss. Unfortunately, potassium deficiencies are frequently overlooked and blamed on other shortcomings, such as low magnesium or vitamin c.
Below is an extensive list of symptoms caused by low blood potassium that you should familiarize yourself with and share with family and friends. Some of these symptoms might surprise you!
- High Blood Pressure
- Frequent Urination
- Polyuria (abnormally large production or passage of urine)
- Thirst
- Kidney Problems
- Sudden Tooth Nerve Sensitivity
- Muscle Cramps
- Muscle Aches and Stiffness
- Sudden Increase in Arthritic Pain
- Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms)
- Eye Twitches
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Nausea
- Brain Fog
- Mental or Physical Fatigue
- Overall Feeling of Weakness
- Physical Fatigue
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Breathing Difficulties (Shortness of Breath)
- Irritability
- Mood Changes
How to Treat Low Potassium Symptoms Fast
If you spend any time researching how to correct low potassium, you will find that every medical site suggests eating foods rich in potassium, like bananas, to increase your potassium. They also state that you should eat foods rather than taking a simple and inexpensive potassium supplement.
Indeed, even on Earth Clinic, many readers suggest eating a banana as a fast and easy way to treat potassium deficiency symptoms, like muscle cramps. The argument is that a banana contains 422 mg of potassium, whereas a potassium supplement contains only 99 mg max, unless it is prescription potassium.
Why Eating a Banana Doesn't Always Work
Research shows that potassium absorbed from some foods like a banana, which contains approximately 422 mg of potassium (4 times as much as an 99 mg. over-the-counter potassium supplement) is neither fast-acting nor enough to correct an imbalance.
One 2012 study entitled Plasma Potassium Concentration and Content Changes After Banana Ingestion in Exercised Men showed that eating up to 2 servings of bananas caused only marginal increases in plasma potassium concentration and that these small increases in plasma potassium concentration occurred 30 to 60 minutes following the ingestion of bananas.
The study concluded that eating bananas is unlikely to be an effective treatment for exercise-associated muscle cramping. (1)
Reader feedback on Earth Clinic also points to occasional potassium supplementation as an effective and straightforward way to treat low potassium.
Take a Potassium Supplement for Fast Relief
The simplest and fastest way to treat low potassium symptoms is to simply take a potassium supplement. A bottle of potassium tablets typically only costs around $5.
Our readers report that just one 99 mg. potassium supplement can often stop symptoms like tooth nerve sensitivity or severe muscle cramps typically within an hour.
Should I take a Potassium Supplement Every Day?
Taking a potassium supplement every day is generally not necessary unless you are taking a medication that is known to deplete potassium, like a water pill.
Those with symptoms of low potassium should consider eating foods rich in potassium every day. However, should symptoms remain, you should consider taking a potassium supplement until symptoms abate. Some people do find it very helpful to take a low dose potassium supplement every day.
What Foods Are Highest in Potassium?
1. Dried Apricots - 1/2 cup = 1,101 mg of potassium
2. Baked Potato - medium size = 941 mg of potassium
3. Leafy Greens:
- 1 cup Swiss chard cooked contains 962 mg of potassium.
- 1 cup of cooked spinach contains up to 838 mg. of potassium
4. Lentils - 1 cup cooked = 731 mg of potassium.
5. Prunes - 1/2 dried = 699 mg.
6. Tomatoes:
- 1/2 Cup of Tomato Puree = 549 mg of potassium
- 1 cup of Tomato Juice - 527 mg of potassium
- 1 Medium Raw Tomato = 292 mg of potassium
7. Sweet Potato - 1 baked sweet potato contains 542 mg of potassium.
Contraindications
People with kidney problems should consult with their doctor before taking a potassium supplement. Consuming too much potassium can lead to hyperkalemia, high levels of potassium in the blood.
Summary
Potassium supplements can be an effective, inexpensive, and fast way to restore potassium levels in the body. While the supplements are generally not needed daily, they can offer fast relief for some symptoms like muscle nerve cramps and tooth nerve sensitivity.
Has a potassium supplement ever helped you with low potassium symptoms? Please send us your feedback!
Related Links:
Effective Natural Remedies for Muscle Health and Recovery
Managing Heart Palpitations Naturally: Tips and Remedies
Muscle Cramp Remedies
Natural Cures for Cardiac Arrhythmia
Potassium - Health Benefits for Your Heart and More
