
Mona Singh
209 posts

Mona Singh
@singh_mona71
@Ecopartytime Founder, vegetarian cook, Eco-conscious soul, @UofMaryland #longcovid










Let me expand on potassium a bit more (a lot more), it's one of the most underappreciated electrolytes. The Na+/K+-ATPase pump consumes roughly 2/3 of all ATP produced in a cell. It exchanges 3 sodium ions (they go out) for 2 potassium ions (coming in). So when potassium is depleted, this pump can't maintain membrane potential properly = reduction in cellular efficiency. Potassium and sodium are linked through the RAAS system. If sodium is chronically low, then plasma volume drops. ↓ blood volume → kidneys activate renin-angiotensin-aldosterone → ↑aldosterone. Aldosterone tells the kidneys to reabsorb sodium at the expense of potassium which is excreted. So chronic low sodium intake paradoxically drives potassium loss through elevated aldosterone. This is why electrolyte deficiencies should be addressed as a whole system. Supplementing one without correcting the other can actually make things worse. The ratios are important. Even more relevant in people who sweat a lot/train/eat low carb/fast regularly. K+ also plays a role in neurotransmitter synthesis (glutamate and dopamine). Chronic K+ depletion = Fatigue, low motivation, brain fog. These show up well before serum potassium moves on a standard blood panel because serum levels reflect extracellular potassium. But K+ is an INTRACELLULAR ion. I work with lots of people with gut health issues and an interesting connection here is with acetaldehyde. Chronic elevation of acetaldehyde, whether from alcohol or from gut fermentation (SIBO & SIFO folks) can deplete K+. Acetaldehyde = mitochondrial dysfunction = ↓ blood pH/metabolic acidosis which significantly lower the binding affinity of minerals and electrolytes to albumin. There are some great high K+ foods like coconut water, pomegranate juice, potatoes, avocadoes, bananas etc. Baobab powder is also great if you want to up fibre intake. If you are going to supplement K+ (potassium citrate or potassium chloride) then its best to dissolve in water and sip it slowly throughout the day cus large doses spike serum K+ and the kidneys might just dump the excess.















