Potassium (K)

Potassium (K)

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Potassium (K)

Potassium is a major electrolyte in the human body. This means it is present in large quantities in the body, and is required in large quantities in the diet. Potassium has a single electrical charge, also called a monovalent element. This makes it a good electrical conductor, a solvent, and tends to make it very water-soluble.

Potassium has many critical functions in our bodies, among which are: • •

• • • • • •

The monovalent elements are the body’s solvents. Though less important than sodium, potassium also functions to dissolve many chemical compounds in the blood.

Sodium is more associated with adrenaline and aldosterone, which are faster acting hormones.

Potassium is more associated with cortisol and cortisone. These are slower-acting stress hormones.

The correlation on hair mineral tests is only a general one, however, as many factors can influence the hair levels.

Potassium sensitizes the cells to thyroid hormone, according to Dr. Eck’s research. In addition, when sodium and potassium rise, tissue calcium tends to decrease. This causes the cells to become more permeable to thyroid hormone, in particular, and to other hormones such as insulin, as well.

Max Gerson, MD pioneered a high potassium diet for cancer and other degenerative diseases. His rationale was that potassium leaking out of the cells causes depolarization of the cells and disease.

His answer was to replenish potassium in the diet.

Potassium does this along with sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.

Nerve conduction, especially in the heart.

Regulation of blood viscosity, serum and cellular acidity, and CO2 transport in the red blood cells.

Regulation of cell membrane potential, cell permeability, sodium pump action, muscle contraction and relaxation, and nerve impulse conduction. These are all in conjunction with sodium and other macrominerals in most cases.

Only 2-10% of the American population obtains the recommended daily amount of potassium each day. This means that at least 90% of the population are deficient in this very essential mineral.

The RDA for potassium is as follows: Age 1-3 = 400 mg daily Age 4-8 = 3800 mg daily Age 9-13 = 4500 mg daily Above 13 = 4700 mg daily Lactating women = 5100 mg daily Potassium performs many essential functions ranging from regulating the heart to balancing the electrical potential of the body by polarizing the cells. In fact, one could call potassium the polarizer mineral. This has to do with the sodium pump, which pumps sodium out of the cells, leaving the potassium inside the cells and the sodium outside. This causes an electrical potential or polarization of the cells that is absolutely necessary for life to exist. On a hair mineral analysis, this electrical charge is represented as the sodium/potassium ratio and it influences other aspects of the mineral chart as well.

Dr. Eck called potassium the follow through element. This may have to do with its role in the autonomic nervous system, as it is a primary indicator of an autonomic pattern called sympathetic dominance, described below.

An old word for potassium is kali, which is why the symbol of this element on the periodic table is K. Potassium is the death element because it dissolves things. It does not kill things, but the monovalent elements tend to disintegrate hard materials such as bone by acting as solvents in the body. This is an essential function, not a problem.

The concept of pairs of minerals is extremely important in nutritional balancing science. Potassium commonly pairs with sodium and with calcium, and sometimes with zinc and vitamin A. Potassium is closely allied with sodium in the body. Both are used as solvents, both are regulated in the blood by the kidneys, both are monovalent elements, and they share other qualities as well. However, potassium is found mainly inside the cells, while sodium concentrates more in the blood and interstitial fluid outside of the cells. The sodium-to-potassium transmutation is extremely important in our bodies.

Potassium and calcium form another pair of opposites, mainly. Calcium is slow and sturdy. We call it the structural element or the builder. Potassium is the opposite. It is the solvent that breaks down structure in our bodies.

Hair Analysis Dr. Paul Eck found that an ideal hair potassium level is about 10 mg% or 100 parts per million, providing the hair is not washed at all in any way, at the laboratory.

On an initial hair mineral analysis, a very elevated potassium level may be due to: • • •

A metabolic imbalance with regards to potassium such as a very fast oxidation rate.

The use of a water softener that contains potassium. In this case, the elevated potassium is an artifact due to water contamination with potassium.

Rarely, it is due to an elimination or just the presence of toxic potassium.

Adrenal hormone levels may be reflected in the hair potassium level. Low hair potassium tends to correspond to reduced adrenal and thyroid glandular activity. Elevated hair potassium tends to correspond to increased adrenal glandular activity and, at times, high adrenal cortical hormones, in particular. However, the presence of toxic metals and other factors such as toxic metals in the kidneys, for example, can also either elevate or depress the hair potassium level.

If the kidneys become toxic or congested, it can affect the hair potassium level – usually raising it. This we call kidney stress. It is a common finding on hair analysis retests, but also on initial hair mineral analysis.

The most common cause of kidney stress and kidney congestion and toxicity is the presence in the body of the ‘amigos’ – aluminum and toxic forms of copper, iron, manganese, cobalt, chromium, selenium and vanadium. When any of these elements are removed from the body during a nutritional balancing program, which occurs very often, the hair potassium level can rise for a few months due to a little extra effort required of the kidneys. This is the meaning of kidney stress.

Kidney stress may also be due to the release of certain medical drugs, cadmium, mercury or other toxic substances. In many, but not all cases, this will temporarily affect the hair potassium level and perhaps the ratios involving potassium, as well.

Potassium Synergists Potassium works closely with sodium, calcium and magnesium to regulate metabolism. Other synergists include most vitamins. These assist kidney activity and may therefore help regulate the potassium level in the blood and the tissues. Most of the important trace minerals are also synergists because they all regulate potassium levels to a degree. Dr. Paul Eck emphasized that zinc appears to raise potassium in the mineral system of the body. Phosphorus, along with zinc, are synergists in protein synthesis.

Potassium Antagonists Calcium and magnesium tend to rise in the hair as potassium falls. Sodium is pumped out of the cells and potassium must be pumped in to maintain the electrical balance of the cells. This antagonism with sodium is particularly important.

Copper, in the mineral balancing system, lowers potassium to some degree. In fact, a low hair potassium level is an indicator for hidden copper toxicity. Vitamin D can raise the calcium level, which tends to lower potassium, as can too much vitamin A, in some people. All the toxic metals, once again, are antagonistic to all of the vital minerals in the body.

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