Consume More Potassium for a Healthy Heart

What is Potassium?
It’s an element and an electrolyte. Your body needs potassium for proper growth and maintenance; it helps keep water balance between cells and body fluids, plays an essential role in response of nerves to stimulation and contraction of muscles. Potassium is crucial in proper heart function, put simply it triggers your heart to beat and pump blood through your body. Lower levels of potassium have been linked to increased or high blood pressure. Research has shown that individuals that consume adequate amounts of potassium have a lower risk of having a stroke. Also, there has been no clear link between potassium and lower cholesterol, but cholesterol–lowering diets that contain high amounts of potassium have been shown to be beneficial.

Which foods are high in potassium?

potatoes
tomatoes
avocados
fresh fruits (bananas, oranges, and strawberries)
orange juice
dried fruits (raisins, apricots, prunes, and dates)
spinach
beans and peas

Remember, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is the best way to get enough potassium. Eating a plan-based diet will also help reduce your risk of heart disease, lower cancer risks, and lower risk of obesity.