Potassium is the main positively charged ion in the cells of your body. Actually, it is in the fluid in your body’s cells. The concentration of potassium in your cells is around thirty times more than it is outside of your cells. There is a relationship between sodium and potassium and their amounts inside and outside of your body’s cells. Potassium is important to normal kidney function. It helps muscles contract and is good for the bones. In other words, it aids in the functions of digestion, muscles, and the heart. Potassium plays a role in sending nerve signals and it is involved in metabolism, its function in metabolism it to loose protein, fat, and carbohydrates for energy.

Magnesium aids in keeping potassium in your body’s cells. But there must be a fine balance between sodium and potassium. When someone’s diet is high in sodium, but their potassium is low an imbalance occurs that causes blood pressure to rise and it affects vascular volume. A person’s doctor is likely to prescribe a diuretic, but the water loss will include potassium. A better solution is to start eating foods high in potassium and for some people losing weight may be appropriate. The body normally has more potassium in it than sodium. The ratio is around 9 to 4 ounces. A diet that includes less salty foods and more potassium rich foods is healthier. If you also need a supplement of potassium make sure to balance it with magnesium.