Hi Kirsten,

Potassium is regulated by law to 100 mg per tablet at one tablet per day dosage. This was done because a high potassium intake from supplements can cause a weakness in the heart beat and even death.

However, potassium is very easy to obtain in the supermarket by purchasing Morton's Salt Substitute which is potassium chloride. Regular salt is sodium chloride. Nice the warning on the box and do not overuse.

A high-potassium, low-sodium diet can protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease. Getting too much sodium chloride (table salt) in the diet coupled with diminished dietary potassium is a common cause of high blood pressure. Salt restriction is not enough. One must increase their consumption of potassium chloride which is readily available as Morton's Salt Substitute for low-salt diets. Supplementing with amino acids L-taurine and L-arginine are also very helpful. In the author's case my blood pressure was high-normal at 155/95 for 15 years. A slight reduction of sodium from table salt combined with an increase of potassium from Morton's Salt Substitute resulted in my blood pressure dropping to 140/80 in only one month. The sodium chloride salt added to food in the manufacturing and preparation causes an imbalance in the sodium/potassium ratio. Foods high in potassium and low in sodium are vegetables, fruits, unprocessed meats and fish, although a restriction in fruit is strongly suggested. Processes foods have a 10 to 1 sodium to potassium ratio while natural foods have a ratio of only 1 to 10. Use the potassium salt substitute instead of table salt. The body process is called the sodium-potassium pump .

WARNING! Reduce the intake of potassium if any signs of irregular heart beat occurs. Potassium can slow the heart rate and block cardiac impulses from the atria to the ventricles. The reason for this is that high extracellular concentrations of potassium reduce the resting membrane potential of cardiac muscle fibers. This causes a reduction in the intensity of the action potential and weaker heart contractions. If the the extracellular concentration of potassium is great enough, the resting membrane potential will be eliminated and cardiac muscle cells will not generate impulses. Therefore, the heart will stop.

Potassium is an extremely important electrolyte that functions in the maintenance of:

Water balance and distribution

Acid-base balance

Muscle and nerve cell function

Heart function

Kidney and adrenal function

Kent