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Bananas are Great Potassium Rich Foods

Reviewed by Sarah Mckinley, MD

Potassium rich foods are dairy produce, vegetables, whole grains and fresh fruits. Fish, poultry and meat have high levels of potassium but it is best for a healthy eating regime to have the mix of fruit, vegetables and meat.

Ensure you eat plenty of potassium rich foods, e.g. fruits such as bananas, apricots, strawberries, papayas and pears are excellent sources to maintain levels of potassium. A healthy diet should always include vegetables as well as fruit therefore pile on the tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumber, spinach and broccoli. Fish and meat such as chicken, sardines, lamb, salmon and tuna are other sources which are excellent in maintaining potassium levels.

Potassium is one of the main nutrients needed by the body. Its function includes maintaining heart rhythm and muscle contraction. There is an abundance of vegetables, fruits and animal sources which you should include in your diet as they are potassium rich foods.

It is seen as important in the society we live in to have a super fit body. This can be achieved by eating healthily and eating potassium rich foods. Faddy diets, starvation diets, cabbage soup diets are not the answer. It is best to have a healthy balanced mix diet.

The USDA National Nutrient Database has compiled a list of foods which will help you to meet the daily intake of potassium requirement of 4.7gm. Some examples of potassium rich foods are as follows; one banana weighing 118 gm has 422mg potassium content. A large cucumber weighing 301 gm has 442mg potassium content and one cup of tomatoes weighing 255gm has 528mg potassium content.

Potassium is an electrolyte which is crucial in sustaining the stability of pH levels within the fluids of the body. This mineral salt plays an important role in regulating blood pressure, bone mass, nervous system, muscle function, heart, kidney and adrenal functions. Suffering from potassium deficiency can produce many health issues. This potassium deficiency is called hypokalemia and there are many reasons for this. People who have diabetes and kidney problems are more likely to suffer from this deficiency as well as those with poor diets therefore it is important to have a diet which includes potassium rich foods.

Symptoms of potassium deficiency are fatigue, weakness, difficulty with concentration and co-ordination may be affected. Hypokalemia can result in hypertension, strokes, high blood pressure and heart problems. If you have any concerns regarding this consult with your doctor.

Too much potassium can cause problems therefore if you plan to take supplements if you think you have an imbalance, speak to your health care provider in the first instance. Rather than supplements eat some strawberries or bananas and when cooking add some turmeric into the meal.

There is a variety of illnesses whereby monitoring of potassium intake is required, therefore supplements have to be taken by certain groups of people which lets them know the correct amount of potassium consumed on a daily basis. If you exercise on a regular basis, are an athlete or sports person then it is more than likely potassium supplements will be required. As you sweat this reduces the potassium level so in order to keep a sufficient amount of potassium in the body take breaks, eat energy bars and drink juices which contain electrolytes.

Tags:healthy diet nervous system

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