A Diet Rich In Potassium Reduces The Risks Of Heart Diseases

A diet rich in potassium reduces the risks of stroke by over 20 % and also lowers the risks of heart dieseases. Good sources of potassium include bananas, other fruits and vegetables, as well as fish, poultry and dairy. The average potassium dietry intake in most of the country worldwide is lower than the recommended by health authorities, and increasing potassium intake may provide protection against heart diseases and other cardiovascular disorders. To look into the association between the level of habitual potassium intake and heart diseases, researcher repored data from 11 studies that included 247,510 men and women. The researcher looked at what people in these studies recalled eating in the past day. It was found that people who consumed 1.64 grams of potassium or more a day had 21 % lower risks of stroke ans also tended to have risks of any other heart diseases. It was also noted that 5 servings of fruits and vegetables will provide amount od potassium needed to get this effect. The protective effect of potassium against stroke or other vascular diseases may in part be traced to blood pressure- lowering effect, particularly in hypertensive individuals and in those with elevated sodium intake. However, other processes appear to be in work as well. For example potassium may be involved in slowing the process of atherosclerosis and preventing the thickening of walls of arteries, all of which cvan lead to heart diseases.