Benefits of Potassium

CHS researchers look to see if high-potassium diets protect blood vessel function in salt-resistant adults

Dietary guidelines recommend that Americans consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day in their diet — about a teaspoon’s worth. The reality is that most people in the United States are eating far more sodium than that — an average of 3,400 milligrams a day — and putting themselves at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure and heart disease.

Increasing potassium intake has been credited with reducing blood pressure and lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Bananas are well-known as a source of potassium, but the mineral also can be found in leafy greens, root vegetables like potatoes and carrots, citrus fruits and fruit that comes from a vine, like grapes.

Shannon Lennon, an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology at the University of Delaware, is researching whether a diet high in potassium also has a protective effect on blood vessel function in salt-resistant adults. People with salt resistance do not experience an increase in blood pressure after eating a high-salt meal. Read More >>>

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