The study revealed that potassium helps preserve heart health, and that women benefit more than men
Women who eat bananas, avocados and salmon could reduce the negative effects of salt in the diet, according to a study published in European Heart Journal, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The study found that potassium-rich diets were associated with lower blood pressure, particularly in women with high salt intake.
“It is well known that high salt consumption is associated with elevated blood pressure and a raised risk of heart attacks and strokes,” said study author Professor Liffert Vogt of Amsterdam University Medical Centers, the Netherlands. “Health advice has focused on limiting salt intake but this is difficult to achieve when our diets include processed foods. Potassium helps the body excrete more sodium in the urine. In our study, dietary potassium was linked with the greatest health gains in women.”
Professor Vogt said, “Our findings indicate that a heart healthy diet goes beyond limiting salt to boosting potassium content. Food companies can help by swapping standard sodium-based salt for a potassium salt alternative in processed foods. On top of that, we should all prioritise fresh, unprocessed foods since they are both rich in potassium and low in salt.”
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