6 Conditions Potassium Can Help Manage Naturally

Potassium is an essential mineral found in supplements and some foods, including spinach, potatoes, and bananas. The body needs potassium for several functions, including regulating heart rate, muscle contraction, and nerve signaling. Potassium can also be an effective natural treatment for certain conditions.

Potassium helps regulate blood pressure because it affects fluid balance in the body.

Blood pressure is the force of your blood against the walls of your blood vessels. High blood pressure (hypertension) increases the risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. For adults, a healthy blood pressure is below 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

Potassium helps regulate sodium levels in your blood. Sodium draws more fluid into your blood vessels, increasing blood pressure. By lowering sodium levels, potassium reduces blood pressure.

Potassium can also relax the walls of blood vesselswhich lowers blood pressure.

High blood pressure also increases the risk of stroke. Lowering blood pressure with potassium may help reduce the risk of stroke. A stroke occurs when something interrupts blood flow to your brain and it is a medical emergency.

A 2016 study found that increasing your potassium intake could reduce your risk of stroke by up to 13%. Lowering blood pressure combined with a high-potassium diet has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke, particularly ischemic stroke.

Osteoporosis is a common chronic disease that causes weak and brittle bones and increases the risk of fractures. Potassium may reduce the risk of osteoporosis by strengthening your bones.

Potassium helps your bones maintain their densitywhich can help prevent bone loss. This is because potassium neutralizes acids that can contribute to bone loss. A 2020 study found that a diet rich in potassium may reduce the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal people.

A diet rich in potassium can reduce the risk of kidney stones. Kidney stones are hard deposits that can form in the kidneys. They are usually made of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate or uric acid. When a kidney stone passes through your urinary tract, it can get stuck and cause severe pain.

Diets high in potassium are associated with a reduced risk of kidney stones. Potassium makes your urine less acidic, which helps prevent the formation of calcium deposits.

A 2016 clinical trial found that people with higher blood potassium levels had a lower risk of high blood sugar and diabetes. A 2015 study of older adults found that people with lower blood potassium levels had lower insulin sensitivity.

Consuming more potassium can reduce arthritis pain. Arthritis refers to swelling in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint damage, swelling and pain.

A 2024 study found that people who followed a potassium-rich vegetarian diet had fewer arthritis symptoms and less pain than those who did not. Potassium can reduce inflammation, which may improve arthritis symptoms.

Potassium is essential for several vital functions in the body. But consuming too much, for example through supplements, can be dangerous and lead to serious health problems. It is possible to get enough potassium in your diet without taking a supplement.

Side effects

Potassium supplements may cause mild side effectsincluding:

• Diarrhea
• Bloating and gas
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain

In rare cases, potassium supplements can cause dangerously high potassium levels (hyperkalemia), which can cause:

• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Fatigue
• Cold, gray skin
• Black stools
• Renal failure
• Numbness and tingling
• Muscle weakness

Talk with a doctor before starting a daily potassium supplementation regimen, especially if you have kidney disease, liver disease, or diabetes.

Interactions

Use caution with potassium supplements if you are currently taking any of the following medications:

• Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: ACE inhibitors like Lotensin (benazepril) reduce the amount of potassium you excrete through urine. This can lead to a buildup of potassium in your blood.
• Potassium-sparing diuretics: Diuretics like Midamor (amiloride) and Aldactone (spironolactone) reduce potassium excretion and increase the risk of hyperkalemia.
• Loop diuretics: Diuretics such as Lasix (furosemide) increase potassium excretion, increasing the risk of hypokalemia.