Potassium

What You Never Knew About Quinoa

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QuinoaAlexa Erickson – In recent years, has become a trending health food. But why?

The ancient food is rich in protein, offering nearly twice the amount of protein than oats, and a bit more fiber and iron to boot.

Protein is an essential part of the diet as it helps your body repair cells and make new ones. It’s also essential for growth and development during childhood, adolescence, and pregnancy. Because quinoa has such a high protein content, it is often touted as being a great replacement for rice and other high-carbohydrate, low-protein grains, hence why health communities have gone nuts over it.

Quinoa is also a great source of potassium, which you need for muscle and protein building, keeping a regular heartbeat, and a variety of other bodily functions. Furthermore, quinoa is chock-full of antioxidants that help prevent cell damage — necessary for healing, disease prevention, and slowing the aging process.

And if you have Celiac disease, quinoa is a great food to take advantage of, as it doesn’t contain gluten. It’s also known for its heart-healthy fats that boost “good cholesterol.” Any food that fills you up and packs a nutritional punch with a small amount is a food to love.

Does that all sound familiar?

What You May Not Know

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11 Potassium Rich Foods: Lowering Blood Pressure, Boosting Heart Health Naturally

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NaturalSociety  November 7 2013

A resurgent interest in treating hypertension and high blood pressure with natural methods has shown an inverse correlation between dietary potassium intake and arterial blood pressure. In short, if enough potassium is included in the diet, the arteries are less clogged, and blood can pass through them with ease and efficiency to be recirculated to the heart. In short again, research shows that eating more potassium-rich foods can lower blood pressure and boost heart health.

Other evidence also proves that there may be a link between potassium and the modification of the central or peripheral neural mechanism that regulates blood pressure. Eating more potassium may even be more effective than lowering sodium intake (which isn’t accurate anyway) to control high blood pressure. The recommended daily allowance is at least 4700 mg for both women and men.

Potassium is a mineral which supports the liver, the heart, kidneys and other organs to work properly, so it is important for more than just controlling hypertension. Here are 11 foods rich in potassium which you should incorporate into your diet regularly:

11 Potassium-Rich Foods

1. Sweet Potatoes – Just one medium sweet potato contains about 550 mg of potassium. They also happen to be full of beta carotene and vitamin A. Continue reading →

Bananas: 4 Reasons They Are Gaining The Title Of “Superfood”

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NaturalSociety  October 31 2013

There are many contenders out there for the title of “the perfect food”, and bananas are just one that has been associated with this rank. It could be because they are highly portable and come in their own biodegradable wrapper, or it could have something to do with all of the health benefits. While you may prize avocados or berries more, bananas certainly deserve a role in your life.

1. One of the most well-known nutrients in bananas is potassium (though there are many foods rich in potassium even more so than a banana). Still, it is one of the best recognized sources of potassium, with 467 mg per banana and only 1 mg of sodium. Numerous studies have found potassium to reduce blood pressure, protect against the hardening of the arteries, prevent strokes, boost bone health, and boost overall heart health.

2. Bananas also have antacid effects, protecting the stomach from ulcers and their subsequent damage. They work by creating a thicker mucus barrier within the stomach to protect against acids. Also, they help eliminate bacteria in the stomach that could lead to ulcers. Continue reading →