What is potassium?
Potassium is an element of the main subgroup of the firstgroup, the fourth period of the system of elements of DI Mendeleyev, has 19 atomic number. Its designation is the symbol K. The appearance of potassium is similar to sodium - a soft alkaline metal of silvery-white color. In nature it occurs only in compounds with other elements. It enters into many reactions, for example, in the reaction with water it forms alkali. Let us consider in detail what potassium is and why it is needed.
In the human body, potassium cells are 40 times larger than in the intercellular space. Potassium is bound to sodium, which helps them to perform the following biological functions together:
- Normalization of water and acid-base balance;
- Creation of conditions for the emergence of membrane potential, on which the number of muscle contractions depends;
- Maintain good blood quality.
Potassium is found in the following products:
- a fish;
- Nuts and their oil;
- seeds;
- broccoli;
- potatoes;
- avocado;
- bananas.
The list can be continued for a long time, potassium is contained even in sea water.
Vitamin B6, which can be found, for example, in sunflower seeds, helps assimilation of potassium; interferes with the absorption of alcohol.
Deficiency of potassium leads to convulsions, violationcardiac and skeletal musculature, acute neuralgia - these are only the most common failures in the body with a lack of this element. A sufficient amount of potassium in the body is one of the important conditions for the work of the cardiac and nervous systems.
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