Product Details What is Potassium Aspartate? Potassium l-aspartate, or simply potassium aspartate, is a safe and bioavailable source of potassium. It is an ionic salt form of potassium combined with l-aspartic acid. Potassium is an essential mineral that prevents muscle cramps by acting as an electrolyte and maintaining fluid levels inside cells. It is also a vasodilator that supports heart health. The most well-known potassium-rich food is the banana, but butternut squash, potatoes, spinach, and broccoli are good dietary potassium sources, too. L-Aspartate, also known as aspartic acid, is an amino acid that the body uses to make proteins. It also plays a role in the urea cycle, which allows the body to remove toxic ammonia. Ammonia converts to carbamoyl phosphate to enter the urea cycle. From there, the carbamoyl phosphate creates citrulline from ornithine. Citrulline reacts with aspartate to form argininosuccinate, the precursor to arginine. The body can then break down arginine into ornithine and urea. The ornithine returns to the start of the urea cycle while the body excretes the urea through the urine. Potassium Deficiency Symptoms Most people don’t consume enough potassium from dietary sources. While true potassium deficiency is uncommon, potassium insufficiency is rampant. Individuals are more likely to develop numerous health conditions without adequate potassium levels, including hypokalemia, hypertension, and heart disease. Potassium deficiencies most often occur when an event causes the body to lose an excessive amount of potassium, such as diarrhea, heavy sweating, and vomiting. Several medications and health conditions can also deplete potassium, including blood pressure medication, penicillin-based antibiotics, diuretics, low magnesium levels, impaired kidney function, and diabetes. Common potassium deficiency symptoms include muscle cramps, spasms, twitches, and weakness. Potassium deficiencies can also cause fatigue and an irregular heartbeat. Potential Benefits of Potassium Aspartate Potassium and the Keto Diet People following the keto diet have an increased risk of developing potassium deficiencies. Most dietary potassium comes from fruits and starchy vegetables, which the keto diet doesn’t allow. As a result, many keto dieters need potassium supplements. BHB Potassium provides potassium and helps individuals achieve ketosis, a state where the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose. Potassium for Leg Cramps Individuals often experience muscle cramps after intense exercise or heavy manual labor. These activities cause a lot of sweating and deplete electrolytes. People often reach for water to stay hydrated. However, this increases the likelihood of muscle cramps, as water only has trace levels of electrolytes. One study found that participants drinking water before and after exercises were much more prone to cramps than those drinking electrolyte-infused water. Researchers believe a loss of electrolytes is the more likely culprit behind muscle cramps than dehydration. Many individuals take potassium for leg cramps because the muscles store 80% of the potassium found in the body and can provide a direct fuel source. Potassium and Heart Health Potassium is a vasodilator and can help relax smooth muscles and improve blood flow. It’s the counterpart of sodium, which maintains fluid levels outside the cells. The typical western diet contains too much sodium, which increases blood pressure and the risk of developing heart disease. Potassium helps combat this by relaxing blood vessels and flushing sodium from the body. The heart also needs electrolytes to sustain the electrical pulses required for it to beat. Potential Side Effects of Potassium Aspartate Best Potassium Supplements PureBulk offers several potassium supplements. These include: Potassium citrate Potassium gluconate Potassium bicarbonate Potassium chloride Potassium iodide Most individuals can take potassium supplements. Some may experience mild gastrointestinal effects, including nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, or diarrhea. Individuals with kidney disease or who take potassium-sparing diuretics should not take potassium supplements. 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To receive a copy of these test results or any other PureBulk supplement please fill out the COA request form found here. *NOTE: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.