How to Choose Potassium Supplements

Potassium plays an important role in the way our bodies function. It helps maintain fluid balance, reduces blood pressure, regulates heart function and eliminates waste. The body also loses potassium due to certain medications and sweating during exercise. Choosing to take potassium supplements is one way to replenish the body's supply.

Things You'll Need

• Potassium supplements
• Dosage requirements
• Health food store
• Physician's recommendation
• Drug store
• Internet access

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Instructions

• 1

  Ask your doctor if you need potassium supplements and if they will affect any medications you are taking. Find out if the medications are responsible for your reduced potassium level and any possible side effects.

• 2

  Decide how you want to supplement your potassium-through food, protein drinks or vitamins. You lose potassium daily so you will have to take your supplement of choice every day.

• 3

  Restrict the amount of potassium in your supplements to 99 milligrams per day. Exceeding that amount can cause stomach irritation.

• 4

  Read the label, especially if you are an allergy sufferer, for the presence of allergens, such as wheat, gluten or shellfish.

• 5

  Visit your local health food store to get a first hand look at the various potassium supplements available. Take advantage of the employees' expertise if you have questions about the products.

• 6

  Purchase your potassium supplements over the Internet, at health food stores or at your local drugstore.