Potassium

[Otis Hurtz]

Was wondering if anybody out there takes any supp form of Potassium (hope I spelled that right). I have noticed that more and more people are asking about Muscle Milk and I was looking into this and it is mostly Potassium and Fat. So if anybody is taking added potassium let me know how it works for you and how many mgs are you taking per day.

 

[mrzap]

I just have a banana

 

[Otis Hurtz]

That is what I do now. One banana when I get home from the gym but I don't know how much K is in one banana. So I was thinking of taking it in pill form. What the hell just one more pill to add to my hand full of skittles per day.

 

[notoriousQQ]

potassium is just one of the pre-dominant electrolytes in our body which is important for amongst other things nerve impulses and muscle contraction. i wouldn't solely base a purchase upon a supplement containing it because you should get a sufficient amount from a balanced diet. it certainly isn't a bad thing to have but the risks of you having an electrolyte or potassium imbalance from hitting the gym are pretty slim. Sweat is about 1% electrolytes so you typically aren't going to lose them that way working out at the gym, typically lose them from endurance events, excessive vomiting, diarrhea etc.

That is what I do now. One banana when I get home from the gym but I don't know how much K is in one banana. So I was thinking of taking it in pill form. What the hell just one more pill to add to my hand full of skittles per day.

 

[trez]

I just have a banana

And your girlfriend has some shirt potatoes

 

[Sebastionv]

Was wondering if anybody out there takes any supp form of Potassium (hope I spelled that right). I have noticed that more and more people are asking about Muscle Milk and I was looking into this and it is mostly Potassium and Fat. So if anybody is taking added potassium let me know how it works for you and how many mgs are you taking per day.

It is beneficial to add potassium to your diet inorder to balance out ph of increased protein intake. In addition, it helps to alleviate water retention. Take a potassium supplement before bed and/or during carb water/depletion.

peace

 

[Otis Hurtz]

If potassium helps alleviate water retention then why do pro body builders drive their potassium level to the ground the day of a contest and then som have dropped dead after walking off stage. Is that related to something else that has a direct relation with potassium or is it the potassium levels themselves.

 

[MikeMartial]

If potassium helps alleviate water retention then why do pro body builders drive their potassium level to the ground the day of a contest and then som have dropped dead after walking off stage. Is that related to something else that has a direct relation with potassium or is it the potassium levels themselves.

They don't drop their K+ levels intentionally; it's a side effect of many diuretics, furosemide (Lasix) being a common one. It increases kidney activity in the Loop of Henle, which in turn increases the rate of sodium excretion....and "where sodium goes, water flows..."

Unfourtunately, potassium is also excreted, and extremely low levels (hypokalemia) can lead to severe problems, even cardiac arrest. But that would be an extreme case, and in bodybuilding, there's only been a few isolated cases that I know of.

I don't know if I'd go as far as supplementing my diet with K+...as it stands now, I use a re-hydration drink prior and after my tae kwon do class, but that's it, and I'm sure that's more than enough.

 

[eat big]

I just have a banana

yup, exactly what i do, all you need to do really. its important for muscle contraction, when you cramp up, you may be lacking it.