Potassium is a mineral that can be found in different kinds of food. It helps with muscles contraction, and regulation of fluids. Potassium also helps lower the risk of bone loss and kidney stones. It doesn’t treat or cure heart disease, but plays a major role in your heart health. The best way to make sure you’re getting enough potassium is to eat your fruits and veggies.
Foods High in Potassium
- Leafy greens
- Bananas, oranges, and avocados
- Vine fruit like tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant and pumpkins
- Root vegetables like potatoes and carrots
- Beans
- Dairy foods
- Meat, poultry, fish and nuts.
Potassium also plays an important part in maintaining blood pressure by helping to lowering the effects of sodium. The recommended daily intake of potassium for an average adult is about 4,700 milligrams per day.
Many factors are involved in a total dietary plan. Although potassium is important, you also need to monitor salt intake, amount and type of dietary fat, cholesterol, protein and fiber. Minerals such as calcium and magnesium may affect blood pressure as well. Researchers attribute changes in blood pressure to certain patterns of food consumption.
Is it possible to have too much potassium?
Too much potassium can be harmful in many older persons and those with kidney disorders. Potassium affects the balance of fluids in the body. As we get older, our kidneys become less able to remove potassium from our blood. Therefore, before taking any over-the-counter potassium supplement, consult your healthcare professional.
You should also contact your physician before trying salt substitutes, because these contain potassium chloride and may be harmful for people with certain medical conditions.
