Potassium is a chemical element with the symbol K (also known as Kalium). It is an alkaline metal and the seventh most common ingredient in the Earth’s crust (2.4%). Among other titles, it is well known as a mineral. Elemental potassium is a soft silvery white metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and is very reactive with water.
Potassium in “The Dead Sea”
The concentration of Potassium chloride in The Dead Sea is 1.2%. Most of the mined Dead Sea potassium minerals end up as potassium chloride after processing. This is the reason for the success of The Dead Sea factories in manufacturing and distributing Potassium chloride to the world.
Potassium in Biology & medicine
Biologically, Potassium is an essential mineral in daily nutrition. Consuming potassium is a necessity for human life and health. It helps in cases of muscle cramps, maintaining fluids to prevent dehydration and releases the energy from proteins, fat cells and Carbohydrates for better metabolism. When digested, Potassium links to Calcium and prevents its decrease. The problem is, when consuming sugar it dissolves the potassium. The situation allows Calcium to leave the system resulting in weak teeth and at a later stage Osteoporosis.
In medicine, it is used in the treatment of Hypokalemia (low potassium levels in blood) and associated conditions as low blood pressure. Side effects can include gastrointestinal discomfort including nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding of the digestive tract.
Potassium in foods
Potassium Foods that contain high exists in many fruits and vegetables. High levels and quality sources of potassium are Spinach, tomatoes, Potatoes, Avocado, Yam, Soybeans, bananas and many others.
Common use of Potassium compounds
The main use of potassium chloride is in Agriculture, as a fertilizer. But it is also used in cosmetics and skin care formulas as a viscosity increasing agent or thickening agent.
Potassium hydroxide is used in cosmetics as a moisture magnet, that swifts along with it other minerals such as Calcium that is very beneficial to skin care. It stabilizes the pH levels and maintains moisture of creams onto the skin. However, in its concentrated form it may cause irritations, burns and other damages. The form of potassium formulates into skin care creams is usually in the safe amount. For example, in Dead Sea cosmetics, Potassium hydroxide or potassium chloride is used in bath salts and is directed for rough skin (such as feet), very old and dry skin and usually not in face creams.
