High Blood Pressure? Eat More Bananas

If you have high blood pressure, or are at risk for it, then you probably know to avoid a high-salt diet. But you can do more to cut back on the sodium, and it’s as simple as eating more bananas…or avocados or even a baked potato!

Potassium, found in foods such as bananas, avocados, potatoes and beans, counters sodium’s ill effects, yet most people don’t get enough of the mineral. According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, people with hypertension may especially benefit from increasing the amount of potassium in their diet, consuming at least 4,700 milligrams a day.

Potassium is essential for the proper functioning of the heart, kidneys, muscles, nerves, and digestive system. If you’re deficient in the mineral, you may feel weak, irritable, and tired – in other words, it’s time to up your intake of bananas!

Good sources of potassium include bananas (422 mg), baked potatoes with skin (738 mg), avocados (540), and lima beans (900 mg per cup). For a full list of potassium sources, click here.

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