My boss has hypertension. And about two years ago, he nearly died. He was hundreds of pounds overweight, but because of a disciplined diet and exercise regimen, he’s lost 150 pounds (with more to go) and is feeling much better.
One of his newly found secrets? He eats a banana a day. The potassium helps him lower his blood pressure.
Hypertension, the clinical name for chronic high blood pressure, is caused by a variety of factors, namely stress, obesity, high sodium intake and low potassium. So eating a diet high in potassium can help lower blood pressure. Potassium helps your body excrete sodium more effectively, thereby getting all that extra salt out of your system.
If high blood pressure is something you struggle with, minimize your sodium intake and add more potassium to your diet. High potassium foods include:
Milk and yogurt
Fruits like apricot, avocado, banana, cantaloupe, dates, nectarines, prunes and raisins
Fresh (not canned) veggies like carrots, celery, baked potatoes, spinach, winter squash and tomatoes.
Fish and poultry
Molasses and unsalted nuts
Image: House of Sims