Potassium plays an important role in your body, especially when it comes to your muscles. Your body needs a certain amount of potassium on a regular basis to help avoid developing a potassium deficiency, which can cause muscle cramps. If you begin to experience muscle cramps and are concerned about your diet and the amount of potassium that you get, talk to your doctor.
Potassium in Foods
Certain foods contain quite a bit of potassium, while others do not have a great supply. Many fruits, such as citrus fruits, bananas, cantaloupes, mango and kiwi, provide adequate sources of potassium. Some of the most potassium-rich foods include papaya, prune juice, honeydew, bananas and raisins. Foods that do not provide much potassium include applesauce, blueberries, mandarin oranges or grapes. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that as long as your diet is rich in vegetables and fruits, you shouldn't have to worry too much about whether your diet provides an adequate amount of potassium.
Low Potassium
If you do not receive an adequate amount of potassium on a regular basis, you might begin to develop muscle cramps --- especially in your legs. Sometimes it's not always about getting enough potassium in your diet. If you have certain medical conditions, such as a malabsorption disorder or other gastrointestinal complications, which prevent your body from absorbing or holding on to the nutrients from the foods you eat, you can develop a potassium deficiency. Chronic or prolonged diarrhea and vomiting can also lower potassium levels.
Symptoms
Low potassium levels can be potentially life-threatening. The medical term for low potassium is hypokalemia, the symptoms of which include constipation, weakness, fatigue and abnormal heart rhythms, in addition to muscle cramps.
Daily Needs
Potassium is typically measured in units known as milliequivalents per liter, or mEq/L. This measurement simply helps health care providers determine how much potassium you should have in comparison to your blood volume. Adults and children over 10 years of age need 51 mEq/L, or 2,000 mg, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Talk to your health care provider about your potassium needs before increasing your daily intake or taking supplements. You might need more potassium than other adults if you have malabsorption disorders or other medical conditions.
