Essay Example on Potassium Intake for Adults: DRI vs US Average

This is to remind the public that the Clinician recommends that women who are above 19year old should consume 2600mg while men in the same age bracket need to consume potassium of about 3400mg. The Daily Reference Intake (DRI) recommends that for an average health 30-year-old male and female, the consumption of potassium should be 4700 grams per day. However, the United States, supported by American Journal Nutrition, reported that the average adults' intake was about 1,755 milligrams, which, when converted, is equivalent to 1.75 grams per day. The consumption of American citizens was also taken into account. Grosvenor & Smolin Americans consume an appropriate 2.6 gram per day. Irrespective of the amount, it is believed that an average adult is not consuming the expected Daily Average Intake of 4.7 grams.

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According to research, a person is expected to consume potassium to reduce the response of blood pressure to sodium intake to lower the risk of strokes and heart attacks. If a person consumes potassium, the heart squeezes blood throughout the body, which is important in filtering blood via the kidney, helps in muscle movement, and can prevent osteoporosis.

People need to continue to consume a diet rich in potassium derived from fruits and vegetables like cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, zucchini, cooked spinach, and cooked broccoli can help in realizing the required amount of potassium for normal body functioning and prevent any cardiovascular disorders. Although it is difficult for a person to develop a potassium deficiency, the disease can occur if the conditions cause severe sweating, severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and severe nausea. Potassium deficiency may develop symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, fatigue, and muscle cramps. If the kidney flushes out more potassium through sweat, faces, and urine, it might cause deficiencies that can lead to death and heart failure in extreme cases. For those who consume potassium, they have the upper hand in having better muscle constriction, limit the sodium impacts in the bloodstream, and regulating fluids and minerals in cells.

Consuming food reach in potassium is one of the best strategies of maintaining normal fluids levels in the body cells, which is required for every human body tissues. The body needs potassium to maintain water balance and heartbeat. Enough potassium and sodium in the body are vital in maintaining blood pressure. However, it is important to balance sodium and potassium consumed by an individual. If potassium amount is little and sodium is more, blood pressure is more likely to occur. In essence, when there is little potassium, it may affect a person's brain cells, which may make the body dehydrated.

Potassium is needed in the body to function as an electrolyte. Normally, potassium, when dropped in water, electrolytes dissolves into negative or positive ions to conduct electricity. The human body utilizes electricity to handle different processes such as muscle contractions, nerve signals, and fluid balance. The ions contained in the body may change the cell voltage, which in turn, activates a nerve impulse. However, if there is a drop potassium level in the body, the body is affected to generate a nerve impulse. Although, the nerve impulses regulate constrictions of muscles, reflexes, and heartbeat.

Sincerely

References

Boyle, M. A. (2019). Personal nutrition. Boston, MA, USA: Cengage Learning. Potassium. (2019, October 28). Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/potassium/

Grosvenor, M & Smolin, L. (2018). Visualizing Nutrition: Everyday Choices, (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.