Potassium and Sports Nutrition

Potassium is an important electrolyte found in our muscle cells and helps sodium regulate body water levels. Potassium also plays an important role in facilitating the electrical potentials across nerves and muscle cells which result in muscle contraction. In addition it's involved in glycogen storage which makes it an important mineral for endurance athlete. A bad potassium/sodium balance can lead to improper fluid levels, dehydration, muscle cramps and weakness. While dietary intake of potassium is generally not a problem and supplementation is usually not required, bodybuilders should become familiar with its role. Find more sports nutrition related topics at nutrition main.

Description

  • Functions:
    • Water household
    • nerve impulse transmission and muscular contraction
    • Glycogen storage
  • More info:
    • The ideal Potassium/Sodium balance is 3.5/1
      So you need much more Potassium that Sodium, but in traditional western diets, the exact opposite is often the case

Foods: Potassium and Sports Nutrition

  • All kinds of beans
  • Dried apricots
  • Avocado
  • Dates
  • Dried figs
  • Yogurt
  • Carrot juice
  • Prune juice

Advice: Potassium and Sports Nutrition

  • While Potassium Supplementation is usually not necessary, a bad potassium/sodium balance can lead to dehydration, muscle cramps etc.
  • Many fast foods contain a lot of potassium, but unfortunately even more sodium (which leads to a bad sodium/potassium balance) and also fat and chemicals. So don't eat junk food just in order to obtain more potassium.