Keto and Potassium

    We have clear skies this morning after several days of rain. I expected the rain to continue throughout the day, but it is clearing up.  That means it will be lovely for our Memorial Day visit with friends. We'll attend a neighbor's house for a traditional Indonesian dinner, and we're looking forward to the evening, especially since it is nicer outside. I'll bring mango dessert bars for the meal even though I cannot partake. I continue to eat selectively but enjoy getting out with others. My weight has plateaued this month. I've not gained, but I'm not losing anything either. Everything is the same, including diet and exercise, so I don't really understand it. I'll check the research to see if this happens to others using support from semaglutide.  Another thing I'm noticing is that some nights I have trouble relaxing my legs. After researching, I learned that low potassium levels can cause restless leg syndrome because potassium helps regulate muscle contractions.   Potassium aids your body with muscle and nerve function. Potassium also helps your body process protein and carbohydrates for more efficient use. It can lower your blood pressure and decrease your risk of heart issues. Because a magnesium deficiency often causes low potassium levels, sometimes it is advisable to supplement it. I noticed that taking a potassium tablet stopped the problem, but I decided to see if keto might be the culprit.  I found out that it might be the problem, because the diet replaces carbs with fats and proteins, forcing the body to burn fat rather than glucose for energy. The fat-burning state is ketosis and might cause mineral deficiencies, including potassium. Therefore, while on keto, one should increase potassium using fresh vegetables. I have a spinach smoothie daily, but I'm figuring out how to increase potassium in other ways. One is consuming avocado, which we use regularly, and chia seeds also help with magnesium.  This is a work in progress, so I will share more information as I learn. In the meantime, my smoothie can help with both potassium and magnesium. I might supplement the rest.