RE: Subject: Potassium/Sodium Balances- Edema &...

[Guest guest]

JoAnn,

I regularly read your input to this group and value your expertise, but

I question your information below. Especially in regards to the liquid

forms of minerals being 98% absorbable. Even the manufacturers who make

colloidal minerals do not have studies to support that. I am wondering

if you have seen any human studies that support those claims.

 

Secondly, I believe that the most absorbable form of minerals are

mineral chelates, wherein the mineral is attached to an amino acid as it

is often found in nature.

 

I would like your thoughts on this, and please refer me to any

supporting studies you may have on the topic.

Marshall

 

 

 

 

JoAnn Guest [angelprincessjo]

Wednesday, October 29, 2003 11:07 AM

 

Re: Potassium/Sodium

Balances- Edema & ...

 

---Good Afternoon! Here is a brief evaluation of the various types

of minerals available in regards to their absorption rates.

As you can see, the gluconate is superior by far.

 

Regards,JoAnn

 

Mineral absorption-

The average person's body will only dissolve 20% of most solid

supplements and will eliminate the remaining 80% possibly causing

constipation, gas and bloating.

A liquid solution does not need to be dissolved, so approximately

98% of the elemental amount will be available for absorption.

 

Rates of Absorption-

Many mineral supplements occur in a compound form. The component

that the mineral is bound to is called the compound or " form " of the

mineral and the mineral itself is called " elemental " .

 

The less soluble the compound is, (citrate is less than lactate is

less than gluconate) the more elemental calcium is available but the

lower the absorption rate.

 

For example, the same amount of gluconate contains fewer elemental

minerals than citrate,

but is *absorbed* at a higher rate because gluconic acid is more

soluble than citric acid.

 

Dietary minerals are absorbed at an average rate of 10-30% however

most supplements are absorbed at rates anywhere between 4% and 45%

depending on the forms used.

 

 

Mineral Compounds-

Of the four top selling compounds on the market:

Carbonate-- is inorganic, insoluble in liquid, requires stomach

acid and vitamin D for absorption and its absorption rate plateaus

after approximately 500mg.

 

Lactate and *Gluconate*-- are both highly " soluble " , especially in

liquid form.

 

Most importantly, they do not rely only on " active transport "

sites, located at the beginning of the small intestine, for

absorption. These sites are vitamin D dependent and

are limited as to the amount of mineral that they can take in.

 

Only a soluble compound, such as lactate or *gluconate*, can also

take advantage of the independent " passive diffusion " sites in the

more alkaline environment at the end of the small intestine.

 

These sites allow absorption regardless of stomach acid levels, age,

gender, nutrition or hormone status and are limited only by

intestinal transit time .

 

Highly soluble throughout the entire digestive tract, these are

extremely bioavailable forms.

 

 

 

In , waddle986@a... wrote:

> I ask again. What type of potassium? Gluconate or citrate?

>

>

> In a message dated 10/19/2003 7:48:37 PM Pacific Standard Time,

> angelprincessjo writes:

> > Potassium/Sodium Balances- Edema

> > A growing body of evidence indicates that low levels of potassium

> > are associated with high blood pressure and therefore deserve

more attention!

> > This association may be especially strong when the sodium to

> > potassium ratio is high.

> > Some researchers feel that in some cases, low potassium may play

a more significant role in hypertension than high sodium does.

> >

> > In several studies, for instance, potassium supplementation

> > significantly lowered blood pressure without excessive sodium

> > restriction.

> >

> > As some researchers have pointed out, diets restricted in

calories

> > and cholesterol are often recommended to people with

cardiovascular

> > disease.

> > It is unfortunate that such diets also tend to reduce nutrients

such

> > as calcium and potassium, which may be essential for maintaining

> > blood pressure.

> >

> > Potassium may prove to be of value to the cardiovascular system

in

> > other ways as well. In one animal study, rats were given stroke-

> > inducing diets.

> > The group that was supplemented with potassium suffered a 2

percent

> > rate of fatal strokes, as compared with the 83 percent rate of

the

> > unsupplemented group.

> >

> > In another animal study,potassium supplementation was able to

> > protect against the kidney damage resulting from hypertension.

> >

> > Other Uses

> >

> > Potassium is essential for maintaining the *fluid* balance in our

> > cells, and is required for the enzymatic reactions taking place

> > within them.

> > Potassium is used to convert Glucose into Glycogen for storage

and

> > later release.

> > It is also used for nerve transmission, muscle contraction,

hormone

> > secretion and other functions.

> >

> > RDIs and DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

> >

> > Potassium deficiency symptoms include edema, nausea, vomiting,

which

> > canlead to further potassium losses, listlessness, feelings of

> > apprehension, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, and cramps,

> > tachycardia, (rapid heartbeat) and in extreme cases, heart

failure!

> >

> > There is no Reference Daily Intake for potassium, but it has been

> > estimated that the average American Diet contains from 2 to 6

grams

> > per day.

> >

> > Potassium deficiency can result from severe malnutrition,

> > alcoholism, anorexia nervosa, vomiting or diarrhea or from

illnesses

> > that seriously interfere with appetite.

> > Potassium may be depleted following severe tissue injury due to

> > surgery, or burns, and during prolonged fevers.

> > The excessive use of steroids, laxatives, and some diuretics also

> > encourages potassium loss.

> > If a person already has heart disease, low potassium can worsen

the

> > picture!

> >

> > In the body potassium must exist in *balance* with sodium.

> >

> > Although sodium may be an important dietary determinant of blood

> > pressure,

> > variations in the potassium to sodium ratio in the diet

> > affect blood pressure under certain circumstances.

> > So when considering potassium levels, we must consider sodium

levels

> > as well and watch out for high sodium foods, including canned

goods,

> > luncheon meats, sausages, and frozen foods.

> >

> > Food Sources:

> >

> > Potassium is found in a wide range of foods.

> > Organic meat and cold-water fish are good sources. Legumes,

fruits,

> > vegetables,and organic whole grains are also respectable sources.

> >

> > People who are taking diuretics for the treatment of high blood

> > pressure are frequently advised to eat fruits such as bananas,

> > oranges and organic tomatoes for their potassium content.

> >

> > However, the amount of potassium in these foods is

> > minimal compared with the amount excreted in urine as a result of

> > diuretic use!

> >

> > It would take an enormous amount of bananas per day to provide

the

> > recommended amount of potassium for a patient taking diuretics!

> >

> > Many physicians often prescribe high-dose potassium supplements

for

> > these patients. However it is doubtful that the potassium is

> > sufficiently replaced even then,

> > considering the amounts that are

> > flushed on out of the body with these powerful drugs!

> >

> > Bear in mind, too, that potassium is lost through cooking,

although

> > the amount of potassium lost varies according to the cooking

method

> > used.

> >

> > A boiled potato may have lost up to 50 percent of its original

> > potassium content.

> >

> > A steamed potato, only 3 to 6 percent.

> >

> >

> >

> > Potassium to Sodium Ratio

> >

> > A one-year study headed by James C. Smith, Jr., Ph. D. A chemist

at

> > the

> > USDA's Agriculture Research service found that the 28 men and

women

> > in their study ate too much table salt (sodium chloride) and not

> > enough

> > potassium, exceeding the safe and adequate daily ratio

recommended

> > by the National academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.

> >

> > The optimal ratio is 600 mgs of sodium for 1,000 mgs of

potassium.

> >

> > The adults in this study were consuming 1,300 mg of sodium daily

for

> > every 1,000 mgs of potassium.

> >

> >

> >

> > Recommended Range-

> >

> > As a matter of general information, a teaspoon of refined table

salt

> > contains

> > about 2,500 mgs of sodium.

> >

> > The recommended range of potassium is between 1,900 mgs and 5,600

> > mgs daily.

> >

> > Vitamin and mineral supplements, by FDA regulation, are only

allowed

> > to contain 99 mgs of potassium. To take a higher amount you need

a

> > prescription.

> > How silly this seems when a medium-sized banana contains

> > approximately

> > 630 mgs of potassium.

> >

> > When people consume a high level of potassium in their diets,

they

> > excrete more sodium in their urine.

> > But when the opposite is true, and they consume more sodium than

> > potassium, they may retain excess sodium in " fluids " surrounding

> > cells in the body resulting in edema.

> > Urinalysis can determine if your potassium and sodium intakes are

> > out

> > of balance, and if either is too high or low.

> >

> >

> >

> > The Best Natural Sources of Potassium are:

> >

> > One cup organic potato……………..1,747 mg

> > One cup organic baked squash……..1,200 mg

> > One cup almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts or peanuts…..780 to

1,000 mg

> > Half a cantaloupe…………………….885 mgs

> > 3-4 ounces of raw spinach……………780 mg

> > 1 banana………………………………630 mgs

> > 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses……585 mgs

> > Half cup of wheat germ………………535 mgs

> > Half an avocado………………………385 mgs

> > Medium orange………………………365 mgs.

> >

> > These natural foods can provide valuable protection against

strokes

> > and edema.

> > Best of all, these are readily available foods, and are easy to

> > prepare and eat.

> >

> > Monitor your Potassium levels-

> >

> >

> > If you are using diuretics (herbal or otherwise) or are on blood

> > pressure medication, you may need a physician's prescription for

> > extra

> > potassium. It would be wise to have your potassium blood levels

> > monitored regularly. Remember, when potassium is lost by a

diuretic,

> > so is *magnesium*.

> > You may need to supplement with this essential mineral as well.

> >

> >

> > SUPPLEMENTS-

> >

> > Potassium is available in tablet and liquid form.

> >

> > OPTIMUM DAILY INTAKE- ODI-

> >

> > Since potassium is so widely available in fresh foods, most

people

> > do not require a potassium supplement.

> >

> > Rather, most people should be advised to reduce sodium intake so

> > that a sodium-to-potassium ratio of 1 to 1 is achieved!

> >

> > If however, you wish to take a supplement, the Optimum Daily

Intake

> > of potassium is: 99-300 mgs for men and women.

> > Your physician may suggest higher levels of potassium if you are

> > taking certain diuretics, or if you are trying to lower your

blood

> > pressure.

> >

> > Potassium toxicity is seen when daily intakes exceed 18 grams, an

> > amount that is unlikely to be ingested through foods.

> >

> >

> > JoAnn Guest

> > mrsjoguest@s...

> > DietaryTipsForHBP

> > http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Botanicals.html