Question 1

what to do if i have been told that my potassium level is low, what type of health problems can this cause?

Accepted Answer

Low potassium: Mild hypokalemia (H) is often without symptom and can occasionally provoke cardiac arrhythmias and may cause muscle weakness, myalgia, and muscle cramps  and constipation.  More severe H can cause paralysis. Find out why you have a low potassium level. At times, it is caused by a magnesium (M) deficiency, due to diuretics, and the H will not correct until the M level is brought to normal.

Question 2

which brand or type of vitamins or suppliments should i be taking for general health?

Accepted Answer

Bioavailability vs..: Bioavailability may vary depending on the source of your vitamin supplement.  Potency and purity however play significant roles in the efficacy of the supplement, regardless of source.  Find the cheapest vitamin that approaches 100% rdu (recommended daily allowance) and save money over "natural source" ones. There are of course significant benefits from eating healthy foods in general.

Question 3

what are the best books about overall health, nutrition, vitamins and supplements?

Accepted Answer

Many good ones: Hard to say which are &quot;best&quot; but some great ones include The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine and The Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements, both by Michael Murray, Staying Healthy with Nutrition by Elson Haas, Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis Balch, Total Wellness by Joseph Pizzorno, The Four Pillars of Healing by Leo Galland and Optimal Wellness by Ralph Golan. 
Enjoy!

Question 4

what are the health benefits of potassium?

Accepted Answer

Potassium: It lowers blood pressure, helps the heart.

Question 5

i have a very good health food store with a knowledgeable owner. if she suggests a certain root or herb, can i use it safely for high potassium?

Accepted Answer

Probably not: High potassium may cause life threatening heart rhythm.  Best not to mess around with it.  If it is high, standard treatments are: reduce dietary intake, take diuretic such as furosemide, take sodium bicarbonate, take Kayexalate (sodium polystyrene sulfonate) (under doctor's supervision).  Important to know why you have high potassium.  Kidney failure? See a nephrologist!

Question 6

if someone was loosing potassium due to a health problem like kidneys etc, would you expect it to be low even with a good diet?

Accepted Answer

Possible: The potassium (K) in the body is the balance between what you take in your diet and what you lose either in the urine (due to medications like diuretics or due to some kidney diseases that cause K wasting) or due to loss in stool such as diarrhea.And in most of those conditions we prescribe K supplements and high K diet.High K diet includes dairies, bananas,oranges,nuts,tomato,potato to name a few

Question 7

irregardless of no health benefits, is a 3-day liquid fast(master cleanse)dangerous? can it cause serious potassium depletion in such short time?

Accepted Answer

Would avoid on HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide): For most people the master cleanse would not be dangerous for 3 days (but i don't advise it) but it could be dangerous for someone taking hydorchlorothiazide  as that medicine causes potassium depletion and the master cleanse only provides 245 mg of the recommended 4700 mg of potassium each day. See http://health.Usnews.Com/best-diet/master-cleanse-lemonade-diet 
see comment for more:.

Question 8

i recently have been experiencing strange health issues, had 2 blood potassium levels that were high. now 5.0 but low sodium 133. been felling unwell

Accepted Answer

HIgh potassium level: You lab results are a bit abnormal. It would be helpful is you could get the results of the bun, creatinine and carbon dioxide levels, as well. Ask the doctor who ordered the blood tests for  you for his explanation of your lab work. He is the best position to answer your questions.

Question 9

do health consequences result from low potassium in the human body? if so, what happens?

Accepted Answer

Weakness: Muscle cramps, fatigue, abnormalities in heart rhythm, slowing of bowel motility. You must seek medical advice , to find out the reason for low potassium.

Question 10

i keep having this thought of losing my electrolytes and dying if i dont consume enough any sodium, potassium, etc. everyday, am i experiencing health anxiety or something else potentially?

Accepted Answer

Obsessive fear?: If you are a healthy 26 year old who has not had problems with electrolyte disturbances and you are plagued by this fear- it might be reality based. If that is the case, psychotherapy (especially cognitive behavioral therapy) may be helpful.

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Doctor answers about:

What type of potassium is best as a health suppliment

A member asked:

What to do if i have been told that my potassium level is low, what type of health problems can this cause?

A member asked:

Which brand or type of vitamins or suppliments should i be taking for general health?

A member asked:

What are the best books about overall health, nutrition, vitamins and supplements?

A member asked:

What are the health benefits of potassium?

A member asked:

I have a very good health food store with a knowledgeable owner. if she suggests a certain root or herb, can i use it safely for high potassium?

A member asked:

If someone was loosing potassium due to a health problem like kidneys etc, would you expect it to be low even with a good diet?

A member asked:

Irregardless of no health benefits, is a 3-day liquid fast(master cleanse)dangerous? can it cause serious potassium depletion in such short time?

A member asked:

I recently have been experiencing strange health issues, had 2 blood potassium levels that were high. now 5.0 but low sodium 133. been felling unwell

A member asked:

Do health consequences result from low potassium in the human body? if so, what happens?

A member asked:

I keep having this thought of losing my electrolytes and dying if i dont consume enough any sodium, potassium, etc. everyday, am i experiencing health anxiety or something else potentially?

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