"One by one after eating too salty"

What is three times higher in potassium than a banana?

 

High blood pressure refers to a condition where blood pressure is elevated due to various causes.

When blood pressure rises, the heart has to work harder to supply blood, and over time, this puts excessive strain not only on the heart but also on other organs and blood vessels. Hypertension can cause various diseases such as heart and kidney diseases, stroke, heart failure, and myocardial infarction. It is called a "silent killer" because it has no obvious symptoms.

 

One of the main causes that increase the risk of high blood pressure is eating habits. In particular, consuming a lot of salty foods raises the risk. When too much sodium is ingested, water is drawn back into the bloodstream. As the amount of water in the blood vessels increases and blood volume rises, blood pressure also increases.

 

Therefore, reducing sodium intake helps lower blood pressure. However, there is another way to mitigate the effects of sodium, which is by consuming potassium. Potassium helps promote the excretion of sodium.

When thinking of foods rich in potassium, bananas often come to mind. Bananas contain about 330mg of potassium per 100g. However, there are fruits with much higher potassium content than bananas. That fruit is dried apricot.

British media outlet Express reported that 100g of dried apricots contain approximately 1162mg of potassium, making them much richer in potassium than bananas. In addition, dried apricots are also associated with benefits such as heart health, eye health, improved immune function, and reduced risk of diabetes.

 

According to the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), adults should consume less than 2000 mg of sodium and at least 3510 mg of potassium daily. WHO emphasizes that most people consume too much sodium while not enough potassium, and explains that individuals with high sodium levels or low potassium levels may experience increased blood pressure, leading to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.

 

 

Jihaemi Reporter (pcraemi@kormedi.com)