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Potassium
Potassium is a crucial mineral that is needed for the heart, kidneys, muscles and other organs to function properly.
Potassium in Florida Orange Juice
An 8-ounce glass of orange juice is a good source of potassium.What is Potassium?
Potassium is a mineral that is part of every cell in your body. It is the major positively charged electrolyte inside of cells.Why is Potassium Good for You?
Potassium has a wide range of roles in the body. Potassium is important for building muscle and maintaining growth, transmitting nerve signals, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, breaking down and using carbohydrates, and supporting pH (acid-base) balance.1-3 Potassium also plays role in cardiovascular, bone, and kidney health.1-5 Many children and adults in the U.S. are not meeting potassium recommendations, and thus potassium is considered a nutrient of concern in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.6 Potassium intake is of special concern to persons with kidney disease and they should consult their doctor concerning the amount of potassium that should be consumed.Sources of Potassium
Potassium is found in a wide variety of foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. Good sources of potassium include 100% Florida Orange Juice, beans, lentils, tomatoes, pork, fish, and potatoes.7 An 8-ounce serving of 100% orange juice provides 10% of the recommended daily value for potassium.* By drinking a glass of Florida OJ daily, you provide your body with important nutrients, including potassium, that may help support your immune system and hydration during cold and flu season and all year long. Florida OJ even has the same amount of potassium as a medium banana!Detailed Nutritional Information
Potassium is the major intracellular cation required for normal cell function. Moderate potassium deficiency may increase the risk of high blood pressure, kidney stones, and osteoporosis.1Potassium plays an important role in cardiovascular health. Diets containing foods that are a good source of potassium and low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.6,8 Furthermore, research suggest diets high in fruit and vegetables, which are rich sources of potassium, could significantly reduce the risk of stroke, especially in those with hypertension and/or relatively low potassium intakes.1,3 Potassium is most commonly found bound to citrate in whole foods,1 including 100% orange juice. Citrate is converted to bicarbonate in the body which is used for acid-base balance.1 By aiding in pH balance, potassium citrate reduces the risk of calcium loss from bones which can be beneficial to bone mineral density. Citrate may also reduce the risk of kidney stones by increasing the alkalinity of urine (increases pH) and increasing citrate excretion.1,4,5 *Values based on a 2000 calorie diet. FDA rounding rules applied when calculating percent DV based upon 2018 rules. Information is not intended for labeling food in packaged form. Nutrient values may vary based on brand or product types.- Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate. Institute of Medicine. National Academies Press ; Washington D.C. 2005.
- Potassium. MedlinePlus. National Institutes of Health US National Library of Medicine.
- Potassium. Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center. Oregon State University.
- Siener. Urolithiasis. 2016;44:51-56.
- Prezioso et al. Archivo Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia. 2015;87(2):105-120.
- USDA/DHHS. 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28 (slightly revised). US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Nutrient Data Laboratory; May 2016.
- A Food Labeling Guide; Guidance for Industry. FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. January 2013.