Importance of Potassium-Rich Diet to Control High BP

Keeping blood pressure in check is a necessity that everyone should prioritize. It doesn’t necessarily mean taking the proper medications; it also emphasizes taking the right diet. Yes, diet also plays a crucial role in helping with blood pressure. 

Watching what we decide to consume into our bodies is vital with today’s various kinds of diets. Our diet consumption can affect our health either negatively or positively. You wouldn’t want to choose a diet that will eventually raise your blood pressure.

It is why in this article, we will be looking at foods to reduce blood pressure. First and foremost, not all diets will fit into this category. However, the best way to know if a diet is suitable for controlling high blood pressure is to identify what the diet contains. Diets that have a high percentage of potassium are ideal for blood pressure control. In this article, we will be taking a comprehensive look at potassium and its importance in helping with blood pressure.

Importance Of Potassium In Blood Pressure Control

The average meal in the United States is known to have a high percentage of sodium, hence increasing cases of high blood pressure. The reverse is the case when it comes to diets that contain a high percentage of potassium. The diets with a high rate of potassium are often low sodium diet foods, so the lower the sodium, the better for blood pressure control. Initially, potassium is excellent at helping body performance and functionality. Once potassium finds its way into the bloodstream, it helps relax the blood vessels, thereby reducing the blood pressure in the body. When potassium is evident in the body, your body is immune to body cramps, and the probability of having a stroke is very low. If you’re a high blood pressure patient, I’ll suggest you increase your intake of potassium.

4700-milligram intake of potassium daily is ideal. I know this might seem like a high target to achieve in a day, but it’s not impossible. Consumption of Fruits and veggies will help you get a high percentage of potassium in no time. For better clarity, we will be discussing a list of foods that are rich in potassium.

When Is Increase In Potassium Necessary?

How does one know when he/she needs an increase in potassium intake? Adults with blood pressure over 120/80 are the perfect candidates who require an increase in potassium. The more you consume potassium in the correct quantity, the less sodium accumulates in your body. Since an increase in sodium in the body can increase your blood pressure. For those with heart ailments, an increase in potassium will save you the risk of heart attack or any form of a heart disorder.

List Of Food That Are Rich In Potassium

As we discussed earlier, potassium for BP is very good for the blood vessels in our body. Since the diets that contain potassium are vital for blood pressure, let’s take a look at some of the foods that are highly rich in potassium.

Before we drop a list of some of this potassium-rich food, we might want to consider that some people will prefer a meal that won’t increase their weight in the process. It is why the meal needs to have low carbs and high potassium. Examples of such meals include:

• Meals

  

• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Butternut squash
• Water Chestnuts
• Leafy greens
• Kidney beans
• Sweet Potatoes
• Mushrooms
• Peas
• Soybeans
• Lima beans
• Molasses
• Poultry products
• Brown rice
• Wheat bread
• Pasta
• Tomatoes

There are lots of fruits that also have a high percentage of potassium:

• Fruits

  

• Nectarine
• Cantaloupe
• Cucumber
• Bananas
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Dates
• Raisins
• Prunes
• Avocadoes

Some of the juices from the fruits mentioned above are also rich in potassium:

• Juices

  

• Grapefruit Juice
• Orange juice
• Apricot juice

There are specific fishes that are rich in potassium, as listed below:

• Fish

  

• Trout
• Tuna
• Rockfish
• Cod
• Halibut

• Recipes

  

• Farro vegetable salad
• Quinoa stuffed pepper recipe
• Protein-packed detox smoothie
• Veggie Quinoa Casserole Recipes

Can I Have Excess Potassium In My System?

As the saying goes, “too much of everything is bad,” same goes for potassium. People with kidney ailments shouldn’t have excess potassium in their system—the kidney functions as an organ that extracts potassium from your bloodstream. However, there are not many known symptoms of extra potassium. Stomach upsets might be a sign of excess potassium. Fainting is also another. For the safety of health and well-being, it is best to see a medical expert if you find yourself experiencing these symptoms instead of jumping to early conclusions.

Conclusion

Potassium is vital to the body because it plays a crucial role in kidney functions, muscle functions, heart functions, nerve functions, and, most importantly, controlling blood pressure. Therefore, having a potassium-rich diet is key to having an ample amount of potassium in your body.