Gondwanaland
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Chris Masterjohn explains why you need it and how to take it in this 8 min video.
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I can't imagine how much I'd have to eat to get 5-6 grams of potassium a day from food alone!
The bicarbonate would react with stomach acid so would be best not to take when stomach acid is needed ie protein digestion etc.Interesting, though he did say that the bicarbonate can interfere with digestion... does it come in a powder?
Be careful with that as it can severely lower BP and arrest one's heartInteresting, though he did say that the bicarbonate can interfere with digestion... does it come in a powder?
Potassium gluconate is quite a poor source of potassium with only 16.69%. By comparison, potassium bicarb is 39% potassium.
The bicarbonate will neutralize stomach acid so it's not good taken with food. Which means you'd have to take the potassium bicarbonate on an empty stomach which doesn't seem to be a good idea according to the video, which recommends mixing potassium with food.Interesting, though he did say that the bicarbonate can interfere with digestion... does it come in a powder?
It's a pretty good video, but I disagree about potassium citrate being the best form. When I first started taking potassium 8 years ago, I took it in citrate form and it contributed to a UTI. I suspected this and did a little research and found that it can irritate the urinary tract. I switched to potassium gluconate and had no such problems.Chris Masterjohn explains why you need it and how to take it in this 8 min video.
Hi @sb4 - I've been taking potassium gluconate for 8 years now and do well with it, so you might give it a try. I take it in capsule or pill form with food and have had no problems. Actually I do take it before bed and in the middle of the night as well, without food, and haven't had any problems. I think the chloride is the worst offender for digestive issues with potassium.Interestingly I recently came across this paper and on another forum people where talking about the potential benefits of 15g+ per day of potassium. This is achievable from food depending on dietary choices and some speculate that our ancestors got a lot more k+ than the current RDA which most people fall under.
I am half considering buying some k gluconate powder at some point and mega dosing, as I think the chloride in my LoSalt could be giving me trouble.
It made me think of you @Mary , what if your constant k+ deficiency symptoms was because you are one of those that would benefit from mega dosing? Of course this could be completely wrong and you could do more harm than good.
It's a pretty good video, but I disagree about potassium citrate being the best form. When I first started taking potassium 8 years ago, I took it in citrate form and it contributed to a UTI. I suspected this and did a little research and found that it can irritate the urinary tract. I switched to potassium gluconate and had no such problems.
Increasing fluid intake and taking preparations such as potassium citrate that make the urine less acidic can relieve the symptoms.
Although some controversy remains concerning what pH level is most conducive to bacteria growth in the urinary tract, most evidence indicates that UTIs benefit from an alkaline pH. The easiest way to alkalinize the urine is with minerals, specifically potassium citrate and sodium citrate. All citrates encourage an alkaline shift; so patients already taking a calcium/magnesium supplement should switch to a calcium citrate/magnesium citrate preparation. Mineral supplements should not be taken before bedtime, as urine that remains in the bladder during sleep may irritate the tissue and promote an infection.
This medication is used to make the urine less acidic. This effect helps the kidneys get rid of uric acid, thereby helping to prevent gout and kidney stones. This medication can also prevent and treat certain metabolic problems (acidosis) caused by kidney disease.
After I started taking it I felt the beginnings of a UTI (I'm prone to them). I did some research at that time, 8 years ago, which I can't find now, but did find evidence that it could irritate the urinary tract, and when I stopped taking it, the irritated feeling and beginning of a UTI went away. So I've just avoided it ever since.In patients with active urinary tract infection (with either urea-splitting or other organisms, in association with either calcium or struvite stones). The ability of Potassium Citrate extended – release tablets to increase urinary citrate may be attenuated by bacterial enzymatic degradation of citrate. Moreover, the rise in urinary pH resulting from Potassium Citrate therapy might promote further bacterial growth.
@Wonkmonk I feel stuffed just looking at that list. I only eat two meals a day and try not to snack!
Fair enough, then how about this: Yam root - 816mg of potassium per 100g raw produce (118 calories only):