Potassium is an essential mineral that your body needs to function properly. It helps regulate blood pressure, keeps bones strong, and maintains fluid balance. However, most people are not getting enough of this nutrient in their diets, and others get enough of it but have a high-sodium diet that counters the benefits of this mineral.
For this reason, it’s important to eat potassium-rich foods, which are always recommended in patients with high levels of physical activity to maintain their blood electrolytes at normal levels. In this article, we’ll look at a list of foods high in potassium.
Let’s get started!
What is potassium
Potassium is an essential nutrient involved in everything from protein metabolism to maintaining healthy nerve and muscle function. Some research suggests that a diet rich in potassium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke, which are important causes of death in many parts of the world. It can also help lower kidney stones and bone loss risk.
Potassium’s leading role in our bodies is to act as a natural vasodilator (that is, it causes our blood vessels to relax), which improves blood flow throughout the body and prevents high blood pressure from occurring. It is also fundamental to achieve the proper contrast between what’s inside the cell and what’s outside through the exchange of sodium and potassium through the cell wall. This balance is essential for most cell functions and thousands of chemical reactions in the body.
Potassium is also involved in maintaining healthy blood pressure, which is essential to prevent the development of hypertension and reduce the risk of complications such as heart disease and stroke, as mentioned above.
Fruits high in potassium
Fruits high in potassium include:
1) Bananas
These are perhaps the most popular fruits worldwide. Bananas are the go-to option for people with low potassium levels. They will give you 358 mg of potassium for 100 grams, which is the weight of a small banana.