Potassium (Photo : Facebook)
A study conducted on a group of 2185 teenage girls showed that health benefits associated with potassium rich diet are far more than that of a salt reduced diet.
Excessive intake of salt causes a lot of negative effects on high blood pressure. Researchers identified Potassium as one of the key elements, which could counter it.
An author of a recent study noted that an increase in potassium consumption may lead to a decrease in the risks associated with cardiovascular diseases caused due to effects of blood pressure.
Potassium is found in great amounts in healthy fruits and vegetables including Guacamole, Potato, Bananas and Coconuts. Apart from this high sources of it are green leafy vegetables like spinach. Researchers attribute its dual role in directly improving health and in also helping to focus on healthier choices of food.
Potassium is found in traces in almost all kinds of foods and helps to maintain steady heartbeat, lowers blood pressure and improves kidney function as well. This study was published in JAMA Pediatrics and researches were monitoring the participanting girls for over a 10 year period.
Their sodium and potassium intake levels were studied. The effect of these constituents on blood pressure was also studied. The authors added that it is essential in the fight for prevention of cardiovascular disease to identify risk factors at an early stage, according to Tech Times.
The research findings showed that there was no significant change in blood pressure in relation to the sodium levels. But they did find changes in blood pressure levels in relation to potassium intake.
The study's lead author, Lynn L Moore, who is also an associate professor of medicine at Boston University, noted that this study will showcase a great impact on nutritional recommendations, according to SMH.
The World Health Organization recommends a daily potassium intake of 90 mmol (350 mg) for adults.
