Modified Calcium and Potassium Diets
Morgan Tilley
West Coast University NURS211L
The mineral that is the most plentiful in the body is calcium. It is mainly found in bones and teeth but also in plasma and other fluids within the body. Calcium plays an important role in blood clotting, nerve transmission, muscle contraction and relaxation, cell membrane permeability and the activation of certain enzymes, along with protecting against colorectal cancer. The intake of calcium or dairy products is associated with lower blood pressures, controlling body weight and obesity.
Potassium in the human body is largely located in the cells as the major cation of the intracellular fluid. There is also a small amount of potassium in the
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Although medications are very effective, lifestyle and dietary changes can help treat or prevent high blood pressure more effectively.
Potassium works with sodium to regulate the body’s water balance. The kidneys help to control the blood pressure by controlling the amount of fluid stored in the body. Therefore, the more fluid then the higher the blood pressure is. The kidneys do this by filtering out the blood and extracting any extra fluid, which then is stored in the bladder as urine. This is done very delicately as both sodium and potassium pull the water across the wall of the cells from the bloodstream into a collecting channel that leads to the bladder. When eating to much salt, the amount of sodium in the bloodstream will be imbalanced compared to the amount of potassium and thus reducing the ability of the kidneys remove the extra fluid. Eating more fruit and vegetables, the potassium levels increase and can help restore the chemical imbalance. However, there is a possibility of too much potassium, also known as hyperkalemia, which can lead to other issues like renal failure.
Calcium can sometimes act like a natural diuretic, helping the kidneys release sodium and water. Also, when calcium levels in the blood drop, parathyroid hormone (PTH) is released, which causes calcium to be released from the bones to increase calcium blood levels and PTH can raise blood pressure. Scientists are still trying to figure out how and why, but
I am concerned about potassium intake because it plays an important role in regulating heartbeat, lowering blood volume and blood pressure (Hammond, 2016d). The lack of potassium intake will lead to irregular heartbeat and life-threatened diseases such as hypokalemia (Hammond, 2016d). In order to increase my potassium consumption, animal foods and plant foods especial fresh vegetable and fruit are needed (Hammond, 2016d).
Calcium plays a large role in the human body. About 99% of the calcium in our body is found in our teeth and bones. Along with other minerals, calcium regulates heart and muscle contractions, bone structure, blood clotting and nerve connections. Because these are vital bodily functions, if the human body is not receiving enough calcium it will take calcium from bones, leaving them weak and brittle. To avoid this, it is essential for everyone to have enough calcium intake, so their body doesn’t resort to robbing calcium from their bones. Humans can get calcium from common foods such as dairy products, broccoli, canned fish, or nuts.
Even though calcium has been known for thousands years it wasn’t purified and identified as an element until 1808 by Humphrey Davy of England. Calcium isn’t just used for making strong bones it’s also used to remove nonmetal from different metals mixes. Calcium compounds are most commonly found in sedimentary rocks such as limestone, chalk, and marbles where I carbonate minerals.
Aldosterone produces by the adrenal gland and causes the kidneys to reabsorb sodium and fluid, and also to excrete potassium in the urine. Because of that, adrenal gland disease affects the aldosterone secretion which decrease kidney excretion of potassium, resulting in
As shown in table 1, No significant changes in plasma sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen were observed among all the studied groups. Aldo., EPL+Aldo., and Apocynin+Aldo. groups caused no alterations in urine electrolyte parameters. Moreover, all groups did not significantly alter the ratio of plasma sodium to potassium as compared with the sham group (sham = 42.19 + 3.77; Aldo. = 39.62 + 1.87, p = 0.57; EPL+Aldo. = 43.08 + 3.84, p = 0.96; Apocynin+Aldo. = 41.12 + 3.80, p = 0.94). In addition, the ratio of urinary sodium to potassium in Aldo. (0.29 + 0.02, p = 0.94), EPL+Aldo. (0.28 + 0.01, p = 0.99) and Apocynin+Aldo. (0.29 + 0.02, p = 0.89) were comparable to sham group
Potassium works with sodium to regulate the body’s water balance. Research has shown that a high potassium-to-sodium ratio is associated with a greater likelihood of maintaining normal blood pressure. The recommended intake of potassium for adults is 4.7 grams/day. Potassium rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, root vegetables like potatoes and carrots, and fruit, should be eaten every day in order to prevent or manage hypertension (Brancati et al.
over 99% of the human bodies calcium is found in the bones whilst the remaining 1% or so is found in the blood matrix.
Potassium is crucial to heart function, important for normal digestive and muscular function. It is the primary positive ion (cation) found inside body cells that it is essential for normal cell function. The proper function of the body requires 8% electrolytes in the bones,90% in skin intracellular fluid and 2% in extracellular fluid. Buttarro, et. al., (2017) mentioned that the human body average potassium is about 50 mEq/kg and normal blood potassium level is 3.5 - 5.0 milliEquivalents/liter (mEq/L). The decrease in potassium level is known as Hypokalemia; it profoundly affects the nervous system and heart, and when extreme may lead to sever complication or death (Buttarro et. al., 2017). Hypokalemia is a possible life-threatening imbalance that in some cases are acquired through inducing drugs (iatrogenic), genetic, endocrine, vascular and renal disorders (Butarro et. al.,
by an elaborate system of controls to provide for fundamental processes (Marieb & Hoehn 2010). Calcium is the most abundant cation found in human bodies, vital to normal function of a host of processes including: nerve excitability, hormone secretion, blood clotting, taste transduction, muscle function and cellular adhesion (Hutchins 2014). This essay will outline some of the more important roles of calcium metabolism. The essay will begin by discussing how calcium provides
Physiologically electrolytes (specifically sodium and potassium) are controlled by the kidneys to regulate losses and reabsorption as necessary. As with water, electrolytes are also dependent to some degree on intake although normal functioning kidneys are able to reabsorb a significant percentage of that processed in the urine in order to minimize losses. The requirements for sodium and chloride is 2-3 mEq/100mL of water per day. Potassium is required at 1-2 mEq/100mL of water per day. Excesses of these ions in normal functioning kidneys is able to excrete within the urine. There is negligible amounts of electrolytes lost in the stool and sweat, but can become an influence in pathologic circumstances. One must increase the amount of ions in those with diarrhea or burns and it should be reduced in those with renal failure unable to properly excrete
The importance of calcium in the human body is high, it is the key of the conduction of the electricity in the human body. The nervous system needs calcium
Plant based foods typically are lower in sodium. Also Gordon should add more potassium such as bananas, sweet potatoes, and orange juice to his diet. Foods that are high in potassium help offset the effect that sodium can have on the blood pressure (Fundamentals of Nutrition). People that tend to have a diet that is high in potassium also tend to have lower blood pressure because of this. Gordon should aim to consume about 4,700 mg a day of potassium because this recommended amount is expected to help lower blood pressure (Fundamentals of Nutrition).
An experimental study by Dr. John Anderson of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gregory Burke of the Wake Forest School of Medicine, and numerous other researchers (2016), claims that calcium supplements may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Their study measured the baseline coronary artery calcification (CAC) levels of 5448 healthy participants, which included individuals from North Carolina. Ten years later, CAC levels were measured again in 2742 of those participants, with the research team dividing calcium intake between both diet and supplements and evaluating the relationship between total calcium intake and the hardening of arteries. According to the research, calcium supplements have a direct
In a study of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), researchers discovered that people who consume too much salt often have an increasing amount of fluid in the body, which directly raises blood pressure. We like salt. Salt makes our food taste better that unflavored. Most of the sodium comes from our food when we are preparing them. However, people added too much salt for seasoning
While there are medications that are effective in treating high blood pressure, according to Mayo Clinic, the most important aspect in controlling high blood pressure is a person lifestyle. A person who controls their lifestyle can control their blood pressure.