Potassium is one of the most important electrolytes in your body. Electrolytes are the substances that maintain your body’s fluid levels. Technically a mineral, potassium helps your overall health in so many ways. It can regulate your blood pressure and heart function, and it can actually lower your blood pressure if you currently have unstable or high levels. This in turn works with hypertension and alleviates many of the symptoms associated with it. Studies have confirmed that taking a potassium supplement has decreased their risk of stroke by almost 60% which is significant. It works by neutralizing the acids in your body and restoring the alkaline salts to the bloodstream. It also works with the sodium in all of you cells including the ones at the nerve synapses which maintains and restores membrane potentials which in turns assists in the metabolic process. It is essential to our nerve functioning, cardiovascular functioning and in the regulation of the transfer of nutrients into cells. This works to promote muscle energy which again helps the metabolic process. In addition to this potassium regulates water balance in your body which means that you are able to recuperate faster from injury or trauma. In people with arthritic conditions it can ease stiffness and cause the acids in the joints to leave leaving a more painless experience. It is a natural pain reliever which helps control headaches, migraines, bruises, and even convulsions. Overall it gives you a better sense of wellbeing that you may not have otherwise. Potassium can be found in many foods, but the problem is that only a small percentage of what we consume actually gets used because our bodies are not very efficient in breaking it down. This is why supplementing your diet with potassium will ensure that you are getting the maximum amount that you can. You should keep your intake to fewer than 100 mg a day because it can cause stomach irritation but that is enough to work along with the foods that you eat that contain potassium.