Healthy Choices-are you getting enough potassium?
Did you know that eating a serving (1 cup) of broccoli contains as much potassium as eating a banana? It is very importnt to know the nutritional values of the foods we eat. Butternut squash, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cantelope, Carrots, Celery, Cherimoya, Tomatoes, Chiles, Corn, Currants, Dates, Figs, Grapefruit, Guava, Kiwi fruit, mustard greens, Orange Juice, Pineapple, Prunes, Shallots, Spinach, Pumpkins, Sweet Potatoes, and Yams are all very rich in Potassium.
Pomegranates are one of the highest if not the highest fruits/vegetables supplying us with Potassium.
Why does the body need potassium?
Potassium, as well as calcium and sodium, is an electrolyte which is very important to the human nervous system, muscle function, fluid balance and heart, kidney and adrenal functions.
If you are quite active and sweat you will need more potassium! When there is excessive fluid loss from sweating, diarrhea, or the use of diuretics and laxatives your body can become off balance i.e. electrolytes.
A deficiency of potassium can manifest as weakness, fatigue, confusion, heart irregularities, and sometimes problems in muscular coordination. Insufficient potassium can also exaggerate the effects of sodium. The first sign of a potassium deficiency is usually a generalized weakness.
Most people get sufficient potassium in a reasonably healthy diet -- one that includes fresh fruits and vegetables and is low in sodium. This is doubly true in hot weather.
On the other hand, people who suffer from some diseases, including diabetes and renal (kidney) failure can no longer metabolize minerals properly and need to guard against getting too much in their diet.
Since potassium has not been one of the nutritional values required in food labeling, determining the amount of dietary potassium has been more difficult than, for example, sodium or fat content in foods. This changed in November, 2000; effective in the year 2001, potassium content will be included in the labeling on food packaging.
Do you get nough potassium rich foods in your diet?
