Go bananas for bananas, avocados and salmon as these foods are protective against heart attacks, say experts in the European Heart Journal, which found that potassium-rich diets are associated with lower blood pressure, particularly in women with high salt intake common in diets with lots of processed foods.
“It is well known that high salt consumption is associated with elevated blood pressure and a raised risk of heart attacks and strokes,” said Professor Liffert Vogt of Amsterdam University Medical Centers in the Netherlands. Potassium helps the body excrete more sodium in the urine, especially in women. “The results suggest that potassium helps preserve heart health, but that women benefit more than men.”
In women, as potassium increases, blood pressure decreases. In fact, for every 1-gram increase in daily potassium, women can see a 2.4 mmHg drop in their systolic blood pressure (the “top” number signifying the pressure in your arteries each time your heart beats).
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