Although electrolytes may be lost through perspiration, potassium is a vital mineral and electrolyte for a wide variety of biological activities .
Because both low (hypokalemia) and high (hyperkalemia) potassium levels may induce unpleasant symptoms and even fatal problems.
“The recommended amount of potassium you should take varies with age. Daily potassium requirements are at 3,400 mg for men and 2,600 mg for women.
"Pretty rare and depends on poorly functioning kidneys," Nemkov said of hyperkalemia.
The kidneys filter out any dietary surplus, thus eating a lot of it is usually safe. High blood potassium levels are a medical emergency for people with severe renal disease.
If bananas were your initial guess, you're not far off! Bananas have a lot of potassium, around 422 milligrams per fruit.
The Mayo Clinic produced a list of high-potassium foods, and acorn squash came out on top with around 896 milligrams of potassium per cup after cooking.
Depending on your activity level, consuming one of these items that contains a lot of sugar can be OK.
If you want to know how much potassium you should be eating, it's best to consult with your doctor.