Coffee and Potassium

coffee increases the excretion of potassium in urine
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/potassium-000320.htm

but according to this data, coffee beans are rich in potassium
http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-000122000000000000000.html

Yes! Caffeine acts as a diuretic and the urinary loss of potassium are
highly increased with the intake of coffee.

Ah, littlek has the appropriate links for it.

Thanks for the links, littlek. It's good to know what you said, CalamityJane. My doctor could not understand why my potassium level did not increase even with 3 potassium pills per day. Those pills were making me feel sicker, by the way. So now I am taking a potassium syrup (tastes awful) which is more concentrated, but the potassium level increased a little bit only. Got to cut down on coffee, I guess.

This potassium seems to be a very potent drug, to be taken under the supervision of a doctor only. I wonder why it is so "dangerous"?

Try to get some potassium with food intake, cello.

A medium sized banana has 450 mg of potassium,
coconut water has over 650 mg. of potassium
a few dried apricots have 895 mg. of potassium
and only 1/4 of a honey dew melon has over 850 mg.

Reducing your coffee intake is a wise choice though. Good luck!

Ah, I like dried apricots, I will eat those then. Raisins too. I have been forcing myself to eat bananas every day, but it did not help.

Funny but I think I have an allergy to honeydew melon and apples. When I eat them, my ears are tingling as if I have an ear infection. I don't know if anyone has that reaction.

Thanks very much, CalamityJane. Wait till I tell my doctor about the coffee!

My pleasure, cello. You know what I do? In the morning I drink a real
strong cup of coffee and that lasts me all day long.

Try to drink juices (Kerns has an excellent Apricot juice) or water during
the day.

I drink just instant coffee, 1/2 teaspoon per cup, the other stuff is too heavy for me. But I drink about 5 cups per day. I drink one glass of orange juice per day. I try to look for Kerns, don't know if they have that in Canada. Actually, I have been drinking more water recently. I keep the water that I boil for my coffee and drink it, not to re-boil it again.

Thanks again for all your help, CalamityJane. I like your name, reminds me a French cartoon book called Calamity Jane, it was one of my favorite cartoons in the series of Lucky Luke the cowboy, you know it?

If you like V-8 juice, the low-sodium kind has lots of potassium, and not too much salt.

Aww, crap. I don't wanna cut back on coffee! But I got about the worst leg cramp I've ever had last night and I was wondering what on earth it was all about... drats.

Yes cello, I know Lucky Luke, used to love these cartoons.

cyphercat, it could be an imbalance of electrolytes including but not only potassium loss. You could have been dehydrated too.

Thanks Wy, maybe I try the V-8 see.

Actually, leg cramps or uneasiness (wanting to move your legs) if you have low potassium is a sign of danger.

People, and not me until recently, probably don't know how potassium is important for our bodies' good functioning. It is crucial and if it is very low, may lead to cardiac arrest at any time.