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| Potassium (K) |
| Potassium is a soft silvery white
metal so chemically active that it is found in nature only in compounds. It is one of the
most abundant minerals in the body. |
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| Food sources |
| Fruits, vegetables and their juices are the
best sources of potassium. Baked potatoes, yams, carrot juice, raisins offer good amounts
of potassium as do shell fish and beans. back
to top |
| Functions |
| Potassium plays a major role in the body in
muscle contraction, nerve conduction, regulation of heartbeat, energy production and the
manufacture of genetic material and protein. back
to top |
| Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) |
| There is no RDA for potassium since it is
seldom lacking in diets. An estimated minimum requirement is 1600-2000 mg per day. back to top |
| Related articles
Toxicity of Potassium
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