Electrolyte mixes with high potassium content?

[Jenniferxgfx]

Hi there, I’m in desperate need of electrolytes, preferably a blend with a generous amount of potassium (many of them are loaded with sodium and don’t have much potassium to balance it out)… there’s a lot on the market but I’m overwhelmed. 

I really liked Liquid IV, and I used that for a few months fine, but then I changed flavors and got glutened really badly. Apparently this is a known issue with Liquid IV, according to some Nima owners who’ve posted about it. 
 

Trace Minerals makes some mixes that are safe for me, but they’re so low in electrolytes I pretty much have to use 10+ packets a day to get enough. 
 

I can’t do citrus (Citric acid is okay but not “real orange flavor” or whatever), but most other flavors are fine. Soy and corn are okay in trace amounts (like lecithin or dextrose) but I can’t do corn syrup. 
 

right now I’m making my own blend with unsweetened cranberry juice, powdered coconut water, and maple syrup, but it’s getting tedious. 
 

thanks in advance!

[knitty kitty]

@Jenniferxgfx,

Why are you in such need for electrolytes? 

You mentioned in another post you are on medication for tachycardia? 

How long have you been on this medication?

How long have you been using these electrolyte products?

You mentioned fibromyalgia, too.  Any other symptoms?

Edited January 2, 2023 by knitty kitty
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[Jenniferxgfx]

44 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

@Jenniferxgfx,

Why are you in such need for electrolytes? 

You mentioned in another post you are on medication for tachycardia? 

How long have you been on this medication?

How long have you been using these electrolyte products?

You mentioned fibromyalgia, too.  Any other symptoms?

I have POTS, which significantly worsened after I had covid 4 months ago. Keeping my electrolytes up is one of the ways symptoms are managed. 

I’m on an extremely low dose of a beta blocker to manage tachycardia (the T in POTS).

My need for potassium & other electrolytes isn’t in question… I’m just looking for SAFE gluten-free electrolytes. In general, my doctors are no help when it comes to sourcing gluten-free meds, so I’m on my own. With pharmaceuticals it’s pretty easy for me to find a safe NDC, but supplements are a lot harder for me to source. I was hoping someone here takes one they like. 

[Scott Adams]

Given all of the constraints, is it possible for you to just make your own electrolyte formula?

[Jenniferxgfx]

2 minutes ago, Scott Adams said:

Given all of the constraints, is it possible for you to just make your own electrolyte formula?

Yeah, that's what I've been doing, it's just a bit tedious, and I'm not as exact as a manufacturer would (or should) be. It'd just be nice to have something I can pull off a shelf and dump into some water. I'm already cooking almost everything I eat from scratch, and I'm very tired. 

[knitty kitty]

@Jenniferxgfx,

POTS has been linked to vitamin deficiencies, B12, and especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1.

Fighting an infection like Covid can deplete thiamine in the body.  

 

Evaluation of thiamine as adjunctive therapy in COVID-19 critically ill patients: a two-center propensity score matched study

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8242279/

And...

Vitamin B1 deficiency in patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28531358/

And...

https://www.hormonesmatter.com/recovering-from-long-covid-with-thiamine/

High dose Thiamine like Dr. Lonsdale says, has made my POTS resolve.  

Hope this helps!

[Jenniferxgfx]

1 hour ago, knitty kitty said:

@Jenniferxgfx,

POTS has been linked to vitamin deficiencies, B12, and especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1.

Fighting an infection like Covid can deplete thiamine in the body.  

 

Evaluation of thiamine as adjunctive therapy in COVID-19 critically ill patients: a two-center propensity score matched study

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8242279/

And...

Vitamin B1 deficiency in patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28531358/

And...

https://www.hormonesmatter.com/recovering-from-long-covid-with-thiamine/

High dose Thiamine like Dr. Lonsdale says, has made my POTS resolve.  

Hope this helps!

Yep, I do take my B’s, thanks. 
 

I also don’t eat enough so I’m not getting enough dietary potassium or magnesium. 

[knitty kitty]

@Jenniferxgfx,

I took a multivitamin, but I still ended up deficient in Thiamine Vitamin B 1.  It wasn't until I started taking high dose Thiamine that my health improved.

Every cell uses Thiamine to make energy so our bodies can function properly.  When we're under emotional stress, and physical stress (like fighting Covid or another infection or physical ailment), we need more Thiamine.  We can become deficient in as little as three days.  

Thiamine is water soluble.  If your body doesn't need it, thiamine is easily excreted in urine.  

If you do need Thiamine, amounts found in multivitamins are not at a high enough dose to improve how thiamine works in your body.  You can have a subclinical thiamine deficiency that goes on for years.  

During thiamine deficiency, the mitochondria cannot make enough energy.  Thiamine Transporters that allow thiamine into cells shut down.  Thiamine cannot get into the cells.  High doses of thiamine are needed to flood the system and allow thiamine to enter the cells by passive diffusion.  

The fat soluble forms of Thiamine, Benfotiamine and Allithiamine (or Thiamax) can get into cells easily through the cell membranes.  Once inside, energy production is restored.  

Fatigue is one of the early symptoms of Thiamine deficiency, as is frequent infections.  Thiamine can help improve asthma.  

Thiamine helps regulate Mast Cells so they don't degranulate histamine. 

POTS is helped by Thiamine.  The vagus nerve is affected by Thiamine deficiency.  The vagus nerve is part of the autonomic system.  If there's not enough Thiamine, problems controlling blood pressure and heart rate are affected.  Electrolyte regulations are messed up.

Tachycardia is definitely a symptom of Thiamine deficiency.  

Thiamine is found in meat.  Since you are a vegetarian, you may not be getting enough thiamine from your food.  Fruits and vegetables don't contain much Thiamine.  

Since Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses, a trial of high dose Thiamine wouldn't hurt.  

You can read more about my experiences with Thiamine in my blog.

I do hope you will be open minded and try Thiamine supplementation in addition to your multivitamin.  

 

[Jenniferxgfx]

1 hour ago, knitty kitty said:

@Jenniferxgfx,

I took a multivitamin, but I still ended up deficient in Thiamine Vitamin B 1.  It wasn't until I started taking high dose Thiamine that my health improved.

Every cell uses Thiamine to make energy so our bodies can function properly.  When we're under emotional stress, and physical stress (like fighting Covid or another infection or physical ailment), we need more Thiamine.  We can become deficient in as little as three days.  

Thiamine is water soluble.  If your body doesn't need it, thiamine is easily excreted in urine.  

If you do need Thiamine, amounts found in multivitamins are not at a high enough dose to improve how thiamine works in your body.  You can have a subclinical thiamine deficiency that goes on for years.  

During thiamine deficiency, the mitochondria cannot make enough energy.  Thiamine Transporters that allow thiamine into cells shut down.  Thiamine cannot get into the cells.  High doses of thiamine are needed to flood the system and allow thiamine to enter the cells by passive diffusion.  

The fat soluble forms of Thiamine, Benfotiamine and Allithiamine (or Thiamax) can get into cells easily through the cell membranes.  Once inside, energy production is restored.  

Fatigue is one of the early symptoms of Thiamine deficiency, as is frequent infections.  Thiamine can help improve asthma.  

Thiamine helps regulate Mast Cells so they don't degranulate histamine. 

POTS is helped by Thiamine.  The vagus nerve is affected by Thiamine deficiency.  The vagus nerve is part of the autonomic system.  If there's not enough Thiamine, problems controlling blood pressure and heart rate are affected.  Electrolyte regulations are messed up.

Tachycardia is definitely a symptom of Thiamine deficiency.  

Thiamine is found in meat.  Since you are a vegetarian, you may not be getting enough thiamine from your food.  Fruits and vegetables don't contain much Thiamine.  

Since Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses, a trial of high dose Thiamine wouldn't hurt.  

You can read more about my experiences with Thiamine in my blog.

I do hope you will be open minded and try Thiamine supplementation in addition to your multivitamin.  

 

I didn’t say I took a multivitamin, I said I’m taking my B’s. I agree that multivit’s don’t do the trick when you’re dealing with specific deficiencies. 
 

I appreciate the time you took to write all this out, and I hope someone finds it helpful. I’m aware of this information, but in my specific case, my potassium levels are quite low and I am regularly dehydrated, so supplementing potassium (along with magnesium and sodium) through electrolyte drinks is what my doctor has advised me to do.

There are many things that can cause POTS. B1 deficiency causes it in a small subset of POTS patients: “Vitamin B1 deficiency in patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS)” (I can’t paste links).  

Other reasons can include other B vitamin deficiencies, EDS, MCAS, chiari malformation, cervical stenosis, ME/CFS, certain cardiac issues, and autoimmune disease. There are more. There are several types of POTS, and we don’t yet know what causes every case. 

I am starting to feel a little bullied here, and as if you’re trying to practice medicine. If I’d asked about the kinds of deficiencies that would cause my symptoms, your responses would’ve been perfect. But I’ve been around the block a few times, and I know what my specific problem is and I know how to treat it in this specific instance, which is why I asked what I asked. I’m just looking for fellow celiacs’ input in continuing with a treatment that has worked for me. Thanks for your understanding. 

[knitty kitty]

@Jenniferxgfx,

I apologize if you felt bullied.  That's the last thing I would want to do to anyone.

I've lived through Thiamine deficiency and POTS.  I'm enthusiastic about sharing what I have learned.

I just want to leave these articles here for future readers.

 

Thiamine Deficiency Causes Intracellular Potassium Wasting

https://www.hormonesmatter.com/thiamine-deficiency-causes-intracellular-potassium-wasting/

And...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564513/

And...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11448586/

And...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2654033/