Rehydrate Better with Drinks High in Potassium

Have you noticed that the FDA now requires the new Nutrition Facts boxes to list the potassium content of food and beverages? They realized that people aren’t getting enough potassium and want to bring attention to this essential electrolyte mineral that is low in many Americans’ diets.

We’ve been listing potassium in Teeccino’s Nutrient Facts since the ‘90s because we discovered that it was one of the main reasons why people felt an energy boost from drinking a cup of Teeccino. The natural potassium in Teeccino’s ingredients also plays a big role in why it is so rehydrating.

 

The role of potassium in rehydration

Potassium is essential to keeping the body hydrated because so many of the body’s functions depend upon it:

• Our nerve cells require potassium to trigger impulses to contract and relax our muscles.
• Our heart is a big muscle that needs potassium to beat rhythmically.
• Our blood pressure is regulated by potassium which helps dilate our blood vessels to ease the flow of blood.
• Potassium transports nutrients into our cells.
• Potassium maintains the body’s acid/alkaline balance.
• Potassium helps keep our bones strong.
• Our intestinal lining is protected by potassium from being harmed by stomach acids.
• Potassium plays a role in storing carbohydrates in our muscles for energy production.

 

We need more potassium than sodium

You’ll lose potassium on a hot day when you sweat, which is nature’s way of keeping our muscles and organs cool. The evaporation of our sweat cools the tissue beneath it which is why we sweat when exercise heats us up. Sweating is also a way to get rid of toxins via our skin, which is our largest organ. But sweating causes dehydration so we have to remember to replace the fluids we lose.

If you’ve ever looked at the Nutrition Facts label on a sports drink like Gatorade®, you’ll find added potassium and sodium. Unlike Teeccino, those drinks don’t contain ingredients that are naturally high in potassium, so it has to be added.

On top of that, these sports drinks have three times more added sodium than potassium. Teeccino contains a natural amount of sodium that is from its ingredients but it is in a much lower ratio to potassium. Plants naturally store the two minerals in a ratio that matches our need for more potassium than sodium.

Because salt is added to so many foods we consume, we get too much sodium compared to potassium. Unfortunately, our bodies can store sodium but cannot store potassium which is excreted by the kidneys.

Why replenishing potassium is so important

Our cellular sodium-potassium pump exchanges sodium with potassium by removing sodium from within our cells and transporting potassium into them. This pump keeps our cells functioning properly and gives us optimal energy production. However, it requires more potassium than sodium to function. The more sodium we consume, the more potassium we require to balance it.

A lack of potassium can cause:

• Muscle cramps, spasms and aches
• Fatigue and low energy
• Light-headedness, dizziness or feeling faint
• Impaired digestion, bloating and constipation
• Irregular heartbeat, palpitations and high blood pressure
• Heat stroke and heat exhaustion

Drinking potassium-rich beverages rehydrates you fastest

Of course, we are not advocating for replacing water altogether, but rather for infusing water with the nutrients your body needs to function optimally. For optimal energy replenishment and rehydration, especially when you are exercising, a beverage that is rich in potassium will both quench your thirst and give you a nutritional boost.

So the next time you need to rehydrate, enjoy a tall glass of delicious and revitalizing iced Teeccino!