Many foods can naturally increase your body's levels of potassium. In most cases, this is a good thing because you need potassium for good health. In other cases, this can be a bad thing, because getting too much potassium can be dangerous, particularly if you have kidney disease. Discuss your potassium needs with your doctor.
Normal Function
Your body uses potassium as an electrolyte -- a substance that helps transport electrical signals throughout your system. Without enough potassium, your muscles would not contract properly and your heartbeat could become weak and irregular. Your digestive system, too, would begin to deteriorate. Potassium allows your body to process the carbohydrates and protein from the food you eat into useable forms. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, symptoms like nausea, muscle cramps, tiredness and constipation may indicate a potassium deficiency.
Sources
While many foods are rich sources of potassium, the richest are fruits and vegetables. Eat more of these foods to keep your potassium at the correct level. For example, one baked potato with the skin left on contains 926 mg of potassium, 1/2 cup of prunes contains 637 mg, 1/2 cup of raisins contains 598 mg and one banana contains 422 mg. As long as your daily total intake of potassium meets the recommended daily intake, you should be able to maintain a healthy potassium level of 3.6 to 4.8 mEq/L. Hypokalemia, or excessively low levels of potassium, is an unusual condition in people who follow a healthy diet, and it generally has another cause, such as conditions that cause significant vomiting.
Recommended Daily Intake
Getting the recommended intake of potassium each day, from food, will keep your levels at the the recommended 3.6 to 4.8 mEq/L. Babies up to 6 months old need 500 mg of potassium per day, while those between 6 and 12 months old need 700 mg per day. Between the ages of 1 and 2, children need 1,000 mg daily; between the ages of 2 and 5, they need 1,400 mg daily; and between the age of 6 and 9, they need 1,600 mg daily. From age 10 on, you need 2,000 mg of potassium per day.
Hyperkalemia
Excessively high potassium levels in your body is a condition known as potassium toxicity or hyperkalemia, and it is most often caused by kidney failure, since your body is usually able to remove excess potassium from your system. This condition is not caused by too many foods high in potassium. According to MayoClinic.com, potassium levels in excess of 6.0 mEq/L are potentially harmful, with symptoms like nausea, muscle weakness and an irregular heat beat. Serious cases of hyperkalemia are life-threatening, so seek medical advice if you experience these symptoms.
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