Potassium is a mineral your body needs for building muscle, conducting the heart's electrical activity and helping regulate your body's acid-base balance, according to MedlinePlus. Not getting enough potassium -- or absorbing too much of it -- can cause serious health consequences.
Recommended Dietary Intakes
The amount of potassium you need changes as you age. The recommended dietary intake for infants up to 6 months old is 400 mg per day and it increases to 700 mg per day for 7 to 12-month-olds. Children need 3,000 mg per day from age 1 to 3; 3,800 mg per day from age 4 to 8; 4,500 mg per day from 9 to 13; and 4,700 mg per day from 14 to 18. Adults 19 and over need 4,700 mg per day, though you might need about 5,100 mg per day if you're producing breast milk, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. You may need less if you have high potassium levels, or require potassium supplements if being treated for low potassium levels. Ask your doctor whether she recommends taking supplements.
Reaching Your Goal
Eating a well-balanced diet will help you meet your daily potassium requirements. All meat, fish such as salmon and sardines, milk, yogurt, nuts and soy products contain potassium. Many fruits and vegetables are particularly rich in potassium. A medium baked potato with its skin contains about 926 mg of potassium, ½ cup of prunes has about 637 mg, and a medium banana contains about 422 mg, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Broccoli, lima beans, tomatoes and citrus fruits are other rich sources of potassium.
Low Potassium Considerations
Your potassium level may dip low if you lose too much of it through your urine or intestines. A low-potassium diet doesn't usually cause this, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Treatment usually aims at the underlying problem but it can also involve supplements. If your potassium level dips too low, you may have symptoms such as weakness, muscle cramps, low energy, stomach disturbances and an irregular heartbeat.
High Potassium Considerations
You might develop a high level of potassium if you have poor kidney function or if you take a medication that affects your body's ability to eliminate potassium. Although high potassium often doesn't have symptoms, it can cause a weak and slow pulse, nausea and irregular heartbeat, according to MedlinePlus. Treatment for high potassium involves removing potassium from the body. This can mean undergoing kidney dialysis or taking a diuretic medication. Treatment for chronic high potassium usually involves maintaining the underlying problem and limiting potassium intake.
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