Get More Potassium with these Foods
By Sara Butler
Potassium is important for a healthy body. When you’re in need of this mineral, you may just reach for a banana – but it’s not your only option. In fact, there are many foods that actually have more potassium than a banana. Here are some plant-based alternatives to help you get all the potassium you need.
Why Potassium is Important
Potassium helps to balance your electrolytes, and electrolytes help you to stay properly hydrated. Potassium also helps to control blood pressure as well as protect the heart and enhance brain and nerve health. Don’t forget that it’s also an important element to building strong bones since it helps your body to hold onto bone-boosting calcium.
Can You Get too Much?
Potassium is good for you, but you can get too much. It might be difficult to eat enough to hurt you, but if you take supplements it should be a concern. There are also some medications that can cause your body to let potassium accumulate, making it more difficult for your kidneys to process out.
Too much potassium can cause a condition called hyperkalemia. It causes an irregular or slow heart rate as well as weakness. It can be life-threatening, so make sure you see a medical professional if you suspect you have it.
Good Sources of Potassium
Aside from bananas, you can eat these foods to help get enough potassium in your diet:
- Baked potatoes – A medium baked potato with skin will provide you with 26 percent of your needed daily potassium. That’s two times more than a banana!
- Sweet potato – A baked medium sweet potato with the skin will provide 25 percent of your daily potassium intake.
- White beans – Just one cup of white beans will provide you with 34 percent of your daily potassium!
- Pinto beans – One cup of pintos will provide 17 percent of your daily potassium needs. Black beans provide the same!
- Swiss chard – A half cup of Swiss chard provides 14 percent of the potassium you need daily.
- Cantaloupe – If fruit is your jam, then try cantaloupe since it provides 14 percent of your needed potassium!
- Corn – Go ahead and have that corn on the cob, because it gives you 14 of your daily potassium!
See? Getting enough potassium in your day isn’t difficult, and you can get quite a variety in your diet, too!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.