Potassium is often mentioned in relationship to low carb diets and apple cider vinegar. Just what is potassium, how much do you need, and how do you get it?

Potassium is a mineral that helps your electrolytes in your body stay balanced. It is important in your muscles and nerves. It also helps in proper metabolism. If you don't get enough daily potassium, you can end up with high cholesterol.

The US RDA for potassium is 3g/day for women, and 6g/day for men.

Where do you get potassium from in nature? First, you get it from meat. This includes beef, chicken, ham, pork, turkey, fish, oysters, lobster. Etc. People on a low carb diet receive a ton of potassium in their diet.

Next, you get it in your vegetables. This includes asparagus, tomatoes, squash, cauliflower, mushrooms, and spinach. All of these are things encouraged by low carb diets for you to eat - even in the first two weeks of the diet.

How about apple cider vinegar? Unfortunately, despite the claims that apple cider vinegar provides potassium, it only provides 11mg per Tablespoon. Even if you had 3 tablesopons a day, you would only get 33mg, or 1/100th of your total intake if you were a woman. You definitely need FAR more than that!