Your body's functions rely on electrical impulses that carry messages to tell your muscles to move, your heart to beat and your lungs to breathe. These impulses rely on minerals known as electrolytes to conduct the electricity needed to function properly, Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute explains. One example of an electrolyte is potassium. When you do not have enough potassium in your diet, you may begin to experience adverse symptoms, including stomach aches.
Significance
Potassium is a mineral required to maintain fluid balance in your body, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Your body naturally has potassium inside and outside the cells, and this delicate balance helps your heart beat, your muscles work and your stomach digest foods. Too much or too little potassium can affect your stomach, causing stomach aches and other stomach-related symptoms.
Illness
Stomach problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea, can cause low potassium levels to occur, the Health911 website reports. While your body normally secretes some level of potassium, these medical conditions cause you to lose potassium at a faster rate. The result is that your body begins to utilize potassium stored in your muscles to perform necessary functions. If there is not enough potassium in the body, the deficiency leads to muscle cramping, resulting in stomach aches.
Supplementation
If you currently take potassium supplements as a remedy for potassium deficiency, you may experience stomach issues, according to the People's Pharmacy, a pharmaceutical and natural health therapy website. Reactions to these supplements include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach ache. Just as your body can have adverse effects to too-low potassium, stomach aches can occur when you take in too much potassium. If your stomach discomfort symptoms continue after taking potassium supplements, talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage.
Strenuous Exercise
If you experience a severe stomach ache after a workout session, potassium and sodium lost through sweat could be to blame, according to the Diet Channel website. If potassium-related stomach aches are a common occurrence, consuming potatoes, yogurt, orange juice, bananas, pineapple juice or raisins after a workout may reduce your symptoms.
Recommended Intake
Consuming the proper amount of potassium each day can help your body achieve balance. Those older than 14 should consume 4,700 milligrams of potassium per day, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Children ages 9 to 13 years should consume 4,500 mg. while those ages 4 to 8 years old should consume 3,800. Although potassium is found at some level in most foods, the best sources are fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, potatoes, prunes, lima beans and acorn squash.
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