If you are like the one-third of Americans who suffer from high blood pressure, you may be wondering what you can do to rectify this health issue. In addition to exercise and a healthy diet, there are specific foods you can eat that will help lower your blood pressure – possibly to the point that your doctor allows you to come off any blood pressure medication you may currently take.
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Potassium is a nutrient that helps maintain a number of body functions, including muscle contractions and heart, kidney, and adrenal functions. In addition, potassium plays an important role in sustaining the body’s blood pressure. Insufficient levels of potassium can result in a condition known as hypokalemia. Symptoms of potassium deficiency include fatigue, cramps, and elevated blood pressure. Replenishing and correcting the amount of potassium in your body will help bring your blood pressure back under control.
You should begin modifying your eating habits by incorporating several potassium rich foods into your diet. It is recommended that you consume about 4.7 grams of potassium everyday. This may seem like a substantial amount, but it can easily be achieved by eating a wide variety of foods. Since there are dozens of fruits, vegetables, and even meats high in potassium, you will find that it is not difficult to add a few potassium rich foods to your menu.
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Fruits that contain significant amounts of potassium include papayas, bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, pears, mangoes, apricots, dates, kiwi, and dried prunes. Potassium rich vegetables to look for include tomatoes, cucumbers, red cabbage, white cabbage, eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and spinach. Yogurt, tuna, and beans are also rich in potassium and should be included in your diet. One particular potassium rich vegetable is squash. This is a super food in the fight against high blood pressure. In addition to the potassium in squash, this vegetable contains vitamins A and C as well as magnesium and beta-carotene, which help fight oxidized cholesterol.
If you are fortunate enough to not suffer from high blood pressure, you ought to still remain conscious of your potassium intake. Making potassium rich foods a regular part of your diet can spare you future physical problems that may include muscle weakness and cramping, fatigue, and intestinal complications in addition to high blood pressure. A few simple dietary changes can help prevent you from becoming one of the 65 million Americans who suffer from hypertension.
