Potassium Needs Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the potassium needs calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Use the Potassium Needs Calculator

Formulas Used

Daily Potassium Target

potassium_target = ai_potassium

Potassium from Bananas

from_bananas = banana_servings * 422

Remaining to Fill

remaining = max(ai_potassium - banana_servings * 422, 0)

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
ageAge(years)35
banana_servingsBananas per Day(bananas)1
ai_potassiumDerived value= age <= 3 ? 2000 : (age <= 8 ? 2300 : (age <= 13 ? 2500 : (age <= 18 ? 3000 : 3400)))calculated

How It Works

Potassium Adequate Intake (AI)

Potassium is crucial for blood pressure regulation, muscle contractions, and nerve signaling.

AI by Age (Male)

| Age | Adequate Intake | |---|---| | 1-3 years | 2,000 mg | | 4-8 years | 2,300 mg | | 9-13 years | 2,500 mg | | 14-18 years | 3,000 mg | | 19+ years | 3,400 mg |

One medium banana has about 422 mg of potassium.

Worked Example

A 35-year-old who eats 1 banana per day.

age = 35banana_servings = 1
  1. 01AI for adult male = 3,400 mg
  2. 02From 1 banana = 422 mg
  3. 03Remaining = 3,400 - 422 = 2,978 mg

Ready to run the numbers?

Open Potassium Needs Calculator