Importance of Potassium

You may ask, "Why potassium?" Oh well... It's because I have this friend who was admitted to the hospital last week because of heart inflammation (?). And the cause? Potassium Deficiency. Years ago, I also had a classmate who was also sick due to the same cause. And so I started to wonder what potassium is and how important it is to our body. I did some research and here's what I found.

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Potassium’s roles in the body include:

maintains fluid and electrolyte balance

helps transmit nerve impulses

helps regulate blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke

helps maintain a regular heartbeat

helps prevent muscle cramps

Bananas, just one of many potassium-rich foods, are often recommended by health care professionals because they are readily available, easy to chew; and sweet in taste, which almost everyone likes. (Thank God I often eat banana. It's my favorite!)

EXCESS OF POTASSIUM

Normally an overdose of potassium is not life-threatening, since excess potassium triggers a vomiting reflex in the stomach. Babies and people with weak hearts may not be able to withstand this trauma. Consuming too much potassium can be harmful to people with kidney problems, because they are unable to get rid of the excess.

There is no major chronic disease associated with too much potassium. When excess potassium is present in the blood, the cause is usually a health problem such as kidney failure, uncontrolled diabetes or use of certain drugs. Excess potassium can trigger a heart attack and result in death.

POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY

A potassium deficiency is unlikely in healthy people, unless the diet primarily consists of highly processed foods on a continuous basis. A deficiency is usually caused by losing excessive amounts of potassium rather than not getting enough in the diet.

The earliest symptoms of a deficiency are tiredness, muscle weakness, and heart muscle irritability, followed by paralysis and confusion. The following conditions can cause a potassium deficiency:

dehydration (includes excessive sweating)

prolonged diarrhea or vomiting (includes anorexia nervosa and bulimia)

diabetic acidosis

regular use of certain drugs such as diuretics, strong laxatives and steroids

certain chronic diseases like adrenal gland disorders, nephritis and acute leukemia

Note: Low potassium symptoms can last for days.

source

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There you have it... so guys, put some potassium inside your system if you don't want to be rushed to the hospital. *winks* Take care!

Top Three Ideal Dates

I'm all out of love. So what I do is daydream. Pathetic, huh? More like... "hopeless romantic". *laughs*

So here are my top ideal dates. Gosh! So kilig! *giggles*

TOP 1: At The Beach, During The Sunset

Ever since high school, this has been my ultimate ideal date! It's cheap and simple. You only have to go the nearest beach (it has to be clean!), watch the sunset, and spend the whole evening together. I can imagine walking through the shore while holding hands, or sitting together behind a bonfire. Sweet! *winks* I kinda love the beach especially at night. I just love to feel the wind from the sea, and the sound of the waves. (emo!) *giggles to the nth level* Perfectly romantic!

TOP 2: Harana

Sometimes, I still feel like doing something traditional. "Harana" (or serenade) is the traditional form of courtship in the Philippines. I still find this sweet. I can easily fall for a guy who can sing me songs while playing his guitar, especially when he has a good voice. Gosh! Just knocks me off my feet! Many times I have dreamt of being serenaded by a cute guy. *giggles* He doesn't really have to have a very good voice. It would also be fine if he doesn't know how to play the guitar. As long as he sings for me, i'll already be very impressed. Aaack! Oh I love daydreaming! Haha! =)

TOP 3: At an Adventure Park, say... Enchanted Kingdom

(Sorry to the owners of this pic. I'm not good at photo editing so it kinda looks funny. Haha!)

Last summer, my friends and I went to Enchanted Kingdom. I had so much fun! While I was there, I was also thinking that lovers can also have it as their dating place. *grins* They will surely enjoy each other's company while playing around, riding rollercoasters, bump cars, etc. I love adventure. I love to play despite my age. So this is really ideal for me. But, it doesn't have to be at Enchanted Kingdom. I've also been to HK Ocean Park and HK Disneyland.It would be a lot better if the date is gonna take place in either of these adventure parks. But it'll be too expensive! Enchanted Kingdom is preferable, money-wise. *winks*

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So there.. You have just read my top three ideal dates. What are yours? *smiles*

The Dead Sea

Watch this video made by my brother. He toured around Jordan just months ago and it seems like swimming in the Dead Sea was his favorite part of the tour. I wonder how it feels like to be floating on the sea without an effort. *daydreams* I so envy him. Don't worry, someday I'll tour the world! *laughs*

Now play... and have fun watching this short video clip!

Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, Injured!

While I was watching MTV this morning, I heard a shocking news about my most favorite rock band, Linkin Park. Oh my gosh!!! Chester Bennington, the lead vocalist, has sustained a back injury and is under doctor's orders to refrain from traveling or any physical activities. This caused the cancellation of LP's upcoming concerts in China, Macau, and Taipei.

Chester Bennington

Sad, isn't it? I'm sure we, their fans, especially Chester's (that includes me, too), are disappointed and worried about the lead vocalist of the band. Oh well, let's just pray for his fast recovery so he could get back on stage and rock on! Oh I so love the way he sings! The best! Chester, you rock! Linkin Park, keep on rockin'!!!

Walking

Long before the semestral break, I have planned to jog early in the morning for the whole break to lose weight. But unfortunately, this seemed impossible since I had no one to jog with and that's quite scary, right? So, I preferred walking with my mother instead, since she can't jog (ofcourse!).

Since last Monday, my mother and I have been waking up very early in the morning say, 5:00 AM, to walk for an average of one hour daily. I really encouraged my mother to walk with me so that both of us could have an exercise. Not only did I think of losing weight, but I also thought of helping my mother stay healthy. The doctor has been requiring her to walk at least 30 minutes a day so I thought it was about time to help her do that.

While I was thinking of what to post here, I have thought of sharing with you some benefits of walking. So here are some of its numerous benefits...

• Increased cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness
• Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke
• Improved management of conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes
• Stronger bones and improved balance
• Increased muscle strength and endurance
• Reduced body fat.

Remember. These are just SOME of the MANY benefits of walking. So, keep walking to keep yourself healthy. As most sources say, any amount of walking is good, but for the best health results, set a brisk pace and walk for 30 minutes at least 5 times a week.

Enjoy walking, walkers! *grins*

Poems of a Scarred Heart

WARNING: Some words are not suitable to mature people. Hahaha! Mushy thoughts follow. Pardon me. *blushes*

STAY
September 15 '08

A guy comes...
He pleases me...
I start to like him...
He goes away.

But you, why are you still here?
Are you not supposed to be out of my life already?

But... will you stay a little longer?
Please?

WHY HIM?
September 15 '08

Just when I finally found someone who stays,
something comes unexpectedly.
Why does it have to be him?
Yes, he's still there...
But will he be only staying for a while?

Good Lord, please keep him strong.
No one sees me the way he does.
Please don't take him away... not now, not forever.

NO LONGER HOLDING ON
August 4 '07

I deserve someone better
... a lot better

I have already let you go...
So please just go

... come back no more.

HAPPY YET STUPID
Undated

Thinking about our memories together makes me happy.
I'm happy...

but I feel stupid.

PLEASE
Undated

Please don't let it hide for I'm sick and tired of assuming.

NOTHING... JUST FACE IT!
April 4 '07

At first, it seemed he feels the same way
But then reality bites so hard that what seems is not what it is...

To me, he's something.
To him, I'm nothing.

Reality is better even if it bites
It's better to be real than to believes there's something
When actually, there's NOTHING.

VICE, SO NEAR YET SO FAR
Undated

Where are you?
I miss your presence...
your presence that gives me unexplainable happiness,
your presence that makes me hopeless.

NO, THANKS.
Undated

Thanks, but I'm sorry...
We can never be
and
we'll never be.

THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, LIAR!
Undated

I used to see you as someone too good to be true
You used to be the one who makes me feel special
We used to be so close to share almost everything

I used to...
You used to...
We used to...

But now, everything is not what

I
You
We

used to be.

NEVER!
Undated

Hate me, just hate me
'Coz I can never love you back.

UNTITLED
November 13 '06

It hurts so much to be the only one trusted by a friend who's in love with thy you used to love knowing he still holds a place in your heart. You know their secrets, you know their happy moments. Every story eats you slowly. You want to escape but the only way escaping from it is to give up a special friendship, something you can't afford to lose.

Retouched. Revived. Relived.

And so I have decided to renew my blog ... for a big change. Big in the sense that aside from changing its template, I am now determined to commit to this blog. With change comes responsibility. From now on, I'll be taking that responsibility. I will be posting more (especially now that we have already subscribed to a faster internet connection). I also have a plan of putting up another exclusive blog about food recipes my mother got from her culinary workshop. I'll give you the link soon. Watch out for it! *winks*

To those who have still been visiting my blog, thank you so much! I know this blog is almost useless but still, you cared to visit and read some of my posts. Thanks, really.

Gosh! I spent almost one whole day just to change my blog. I've encountered a bunch of errors and guess what, my links are all gone! I AM SO SORRY!!! I'll try to populate my list as soon as possible. Oh, help me!

Oh wee! Good luck to me! Stick around! =)