The Potassium Blood Pressure Connection

We all know that eating our fruits and vegetables is good for us, but did you know that eating the right fruits and vegetables can help you lower your blood pressure or keep it from going too high in the first place? Scientists have found a potassium blood pressure connection that is sure to make peas and banana lovers happy. It has been known for some time that potassium supplements, which contain potassium chloride help to lower blood pressure, but now it is known that potassium citrate, which occurs naturally in many foods, also helps to lower blood pressure.

More on the Potassium Blood Pressure Connection

The study that was done was actually quite interesting and proved the potassium blood pressure connection truly does exist. There were 14 people who participated in the study. The people were split into two groups, one receiving potassium chloride supplements and the other eating foods with potassium citrate in them. After a week the two groups switched what they were being given and in the end their blood pressure readings dropped and were virtually identical, proving that people can eat foods high in potassium to help control their blood pressure or even prevent high blood pressure from developing.

There are many foods that you can eat that will help to provide you with the potassium that you need to lower blood pressure and live a healthy life. You may find that some of your favorite foods are high in potassium, which will make it even simpler for you to control or prevent high blood pressure. Some of the foods that will allow you to take advantage of the potassium blood pressure connection include:

• Bananas
• Citrus fruits
• Dried apricots
• Salmon, flounder, and tuna
• Green leafy vegetables
• Legumes
• Melons
• Potatoes
• Poultry
• Tomatoes
• Whole grain cereals
• Yogurt

As you can see, you can get a healthy amount of potassium at each meal if you just incorporate some of these foods. You probably didn’t know that a lot of these foods even had potassium, but they do! Knowing which foods have potassium and which do not may help you make healthier choices for your blood pressure and your body at all times! When you combine the consumption of potassium with an overall healthy diet, reducing the intake of salt, and exercise you’ll find that controlling your blood pressure really is a simple task.