Many people don't know that about a year ago I started to have some issues with my heart. I could be laying on the couch totally relaxed and all of a sudden my heart would start to beat frantically as though it were trying to jump out of my chest, this hurt really bad and caused a lot of anxiety because I did not know what was going on.I dealt with this for awhile because I couldn't afford to go to the doctor. However, this decision was taken from me when for a week my resting heart rate did not dip below 100. Thank goodness I had wonderful parents who were willing and able to help me pay for my much needed doctors visit.
Once at the doctors office I had an EKG done which showed that nothing was wrong with my heart. It was healthy and was beating like it should. So what was causing my problems? Our next option was a blood test. They drew several vials of blood and sent it off to be tested promising to call as soon as they got the results. The next day my doctor called and told me I had extremely low potassium. The normal human body has anywhere between 3.5-5.0 mL of potassium in their blood at any given time. I was below 1 mL.
Potassium is used to help your muscles and nerves function properly. At the level that I was at my reflexes and thought process were affected as well as my heart. If potassium gets too low it can actually cause permanent heart damage or even make your heart stop beating. Because of these risks I was started on an extremely high dosage of Potassium that very same day.
After my prescription was up I went on my merry way hoping that everything would be ok. It was, but from time to time I still had issues with my heart... until I started weight watchers.
Potassium is found in vegetables and fruits with the highest 10 going as follows:
1.white beans
2.dark leafy greens (spinach)3. baked potato (with skin)
4. dried apricots
5. baked acorn squash
6. yogurt (plain, skim/non-fat)
7. fish (salmon)
8. avocados
9. mushrooms (white)
10. bananas
Because the weight watchers diet has you attempt to eat a fruit or a vegetable with every meal and snack I haven't had any problems since I started.
