Potassium is a very important mineral which helps to keep your body functioning properly. Not only does potassium help to maintain the fluid levels in your body but it also keeps your muscles working and your heart pumping. Without enough potassium in your diet you may experience all kinds of unpleasant side effects ranging from muscle cramps and weakness to irregular heartbeat and diarrhea. By eating plenty of potassium rich foods it is possible to avoid these side effects and to keep your body healthy, but there are other benefits of eating foods rich in potassium. Potassium plays a key role in regulating your blood pressure, so if you eat plenty of potassium rich foods you may find that you can lower your blood pressure without much effort.
Potassium helps the kidneys to filter sodium out of your blood and having less sodium in your blood may result in a lower blood pressure. Many doctors of patients with high blood pressure or hypertension suggest that their patients eat more potassium rich foods, sometimes in addition to taking medication, to lower their blood pressure. By eating more foods rich in potassium and lowering your blood pressure you can greatly reduce your risk for stroke - some studies showed that participants with a higher intake of potassium cut their risk of stroke by as much as 38%. There are mineral supplements available to help you reach the recommended daily dosage of potassium but the best option is to begin eating more potassium rich foods.
There are many foods which are good sources of potassium - you may even eat many of them on a regular basis without realizing it. Fruits such as apples, bananas, strawberries, oranges, and several types of melons are high in potassium content as are vegetables including carrots, beans, potatoes, broccoli, and leafy greens such as spinach. Potassium can also be found in proteins like beef and lamb and poultry such as chicken and turkey. There are many foods which contain high levels of potassium so it is easy to get your recommended daily dosage. All you need to do is sit down and take a look at your diet - what vitamins and minerals do you need more of and how can you get them? Are there certain types of food that you need to cut back on? Your doctor may be able to help you create a diet plan that will fit your lifestyle and make sure that you get all of the nutrients your body needs.
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