Since big molecules diffuses slower than small ones, then why is it that Potassium (bigger atom) diffuses faster than Sodium (smaller atom) across the Plasma membrane of the cell?

Hi,
I have a health problem which includes low energy and digestive problems. My doctor said that i appeared to be low on potassium. I’ve tried eating heaps of potassium and it doesn’t seem to help. Sometimes I feel better than other times, but it doesn’t seem to be related to what I eat. I don’t get much exercise, so I wouldn’t have thought I would be loosing much potassium. Although he didn’t exactly say it, i believe the doctor was suggesting that I masturbate too much. However, i don’t do this very often either, in my view. I’m trying to work out what is causing this problem and whether it does have anything to do with potassium, or masturbation, or whether masturbation can cause a loss of potassium.

BANANAS�

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about�
Bananas. �He said the expression ‘going bananas’ is from the effects of�
Bananas on the brain. �Read on:�

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!�
This is interesting.�
After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way�
Again.�

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose�
Combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial�
Boost of energy.�

Research has proven that just two bananas provide�
Enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the�
Number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.�

But energy isn’t�
The only way a banana can help us keep fit.�It can�
Also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and�
Conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.�

Depression:�
According to a recent�
Survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt�
Much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan,�
A type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you�
Relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.�

PMS:�Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it�
Contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.�

Anemia:�High�
In iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and�
So helps in cases of anemia.�

Blood�
Pressure:�This unique�
Tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it�
Perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug�
Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims�
For the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.�

Brain�
Power:�200 students at a�
Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by�
Eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain�
Power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning�
By making pupils more alert.�

Constipation:�
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel�
Action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.�

Hangovers:�
One of the quickest�
Ways of curing a hangover is to�
Make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach�
And, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while�
The milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.�

Heartburn:�Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if�
You suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.�

Morning�
Sickness:�Snacking on�
Bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning�
Sickness.�

Mosquito bites:�Before reaching for the insect bite cream,�
Try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people�
Find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.�

Nerves:�
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.�

Overweight�
And at work? Studies at the�
Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on�
Comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients,�
Researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs.�
The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to�
Control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every�
Two hours to keep levels steady.�

Ulcers:�The�
Banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its�
Soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten�
Without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity�
And reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.�

Temperature control:�Many other cultures see bananas as a�
‘cooling’ fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of�
Expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to�
Ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.�

Seasonal�
Affective Disorder (SAD):�Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood�
Enhancer tryptophan.�

Smoking &Tobacco�
Use:�Bananas can also help�
People trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the�
Potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects�
of nicotine withdrawal. < BR>

Stress:�Potassium�
is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the�
brain and regulates your body’s water balance. When we are stressed, our�
metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be�
rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.�

Strokes:�According to research in The New England Journal of�
Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death�
by strokes by as much as 40%!�

Warts:�Those�
keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a�
piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out.�
Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!�

So, a banana�
really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it�
has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the�
phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins�
and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods�
around. �So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, ‘A�
banana a day keeps the doctor away!’�

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS�
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I�
will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the�
banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe…polish with dry cloth. Amazing�
fruit�!�

I had some blood work done and was told that I have very low levels of potassium. I’m going to take a multi-vitamin. I love baked potatoes but don’t like bananas. Does anyone know of other foods with lots of potassium? And also does anyone know if it’s dangerous not to have enough potassium in thee system. There is a medical term for the condition but I can’t recall it. Anyone with informaton about hiis, THANKS!

Can anyone also draw and scan a diagram that indicates how water interacts with the salt (Potassium Chloride) as it dissolves?

I know sodium rich food can cause water retention but are there other causes of water retention?
If you have water retention what is the best solution?

What is the differance between Potassium and potassium chloride in mineral supplements? I’m supplosed to take a potassium supplement but when I look at the back for ingrediance of the supplements some say potassium and some say potassium chlordie.

Say I were to mostly just eat just pasta and some form of protein, like tofu or milk products, could I still get my missing nutrients efficiently through pills and supplements alone?

I am at a loss. I have hypoglycemic symptoms (although glucose levels are normal after fasting 12 hours) and all low potassium symptoms (shaking, cold intolerance, thirst, brain fog, anxiety, chest pains, fatigue, cold intolerance, muscle weakness/twitching, night/feet sweats, seeing stars, general feeling that something is not right). In addition, I am 5′8" and lost 10 pounds in six months (113) - have since gained 5-7 back. Symptoms get worse with stress, alcohol, and at night. I go from diarrea to constipation and back. Has been going on for two years - getting worse every day. I have invested thousands in medical/hospital bills. All blood tests appear "normal" (with minor abnormalities):
high calcium - 10.4 (later normal 9.3)
high parathyroid (later normal)
low potassium - 3.3 (later normal)
low ALT/SGPT - 8
low white blood cells - 4.0
low neutrophils - 49.1
I admit that I don’t eat right (lg meals, lots of sugar and carbs) - vegetarian for 20yrs. Eating better. Please help!
I am at a loss. I have hypoglycemic symptoms (although glucose levels are normal after fasting 12 hours) and all low potassium symptoms (shaking, cold intolerance, thirst, brain fog, anxiety, chest pains, fatigue, cold intolerance, muscle weakness/twitching, night/feet sweats, seeing stars, general feeling that something is not right). In addition, I am 5′8" and lost 10 pounds in six months (113) - have since gained 5-7 back. Symptoms get worse with stress, alcohol, and at night. I go from diarrea to constipation and back. Has been going on for 2rs - getting worse. All blood tests appear "normal" (with minor abnormalities):
high calcium - 10.4 (later normal 9.3)
high parathyroid (later normal)
low potassium - 3.3 (later normal)
low ALT/SGPT - 8
low white blood cells - 4.0
high TSH (monitoring every 3 months, per endo.)
low neutrophils - 49.1
I admit that I don’t eat right (lg meals, lots of sugar and carbs) - vegetarian for 20yrs. Eating better. Please help!