A new study shows that a diet of potassium-rich foods reduces the risk of hardened arteries and can prevent heart attack and stroke. O...
A new study shows that a diet of potassium-rich foods reduces the risk of hardened arteries and can prevent heart attack and stroke.
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| One banana has 425 mg of potassium. |
By Kate Mooney, Metro
Potassium-rich foods like
bananas and avocados are good for your muscles and kidneys, help
regulate your heartbeat, and now new research shows they may also help
lower the risk of heart disease.
A new study
from the University of Alabama-Birmingham found that regular potassium
intake can help prevent pathogenic vascular calcification, (hardening of
the arteries), one of the causes of heart attack and stroke.
[post_ads]Researchers fed mice varying levels of potassium and
examined their arteries, and found that the mice on a reduced potassium
diet were more likely to develop hardened arteries and experience aortal
stiffness.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends
a serving of at least 3500 mg of potassium daily. That may sound like a
lot, but good levels of potassium are present in a wide variety of
foods. One banana has 425 mg, a cup of sliced avocado, 708 mg, and just a
half cup of spinach, 420 mg.
Here are more tips for a heart healthy diet, including foods high in unsaturated fat, such as avocados, beans and nuts.
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