NUTRITION

Potassium is important in the regulation of the heart. It may also aid in regulating normal blood pressure and can prevent hypertension or high blood pressure. If you keep your sodium (salt) intake to under 2000 mg per day, your body will be less likely to retain water. Excessive sodium intake upsets the fluid balance in the body and can cause a number of serious problems.

One of the dangers inherent in eating or drinking too much sodium is that it draws water and potassium out of the cells where it’s needed to maintain the body’s electrolyte balance. That is a balance necessary to keep your body running smoothly.

In America we have a diet rich in salt. All processed food – canned or packaged products – have salt in them as a preservative and to enhance flavor. POTASSIUM IN FOOD Potassium is found in most wholesome foods – fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, lentils, beans, nuts and protein foods. Refined or highly processed foods, sweets and oil foods (salad dressings, butter, etc.) are poor sources of potassium. You can best increase the potassium in your diet by eating: Whole wheat, oatmeal and dark breads instead of white bread and flour products. Salads and raw vegetables or steamed veggies cooked in only a small amount of water. That’s because the potassium leaches out of vegetables and into the water. Steaming removes only 3 to 6% of the veggies’ potassium compared to a 10 to 15% loss with boiling. Natural fruit juices instead of flavored beverages or soft drinks, Suggested daily intake for potassium is approximately 2,600 mgs per day.

Lauren Braun,
Registered Dietician, L.D.
Previous