- “Cut salt, slice bananas. A study published in a 2009 edition of the the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that a combination of eating more potassium-rich foods while reducing sodium intake lowered blood pressure more effectively than doing any one of those strategies alone. The study at Loyola University showed that cardiovascular disease increased by 50 percent for participants with a high sodium-to-potassium ratio in their blood. Potassium helps sweep excess sodium from the circulatory system, causing the blood vessels to dilate. Studies show that not getting at least 2,000 milligrams of potassium daily can set you up for high blood pressure. Other good sources of potassium are sweet potatoes, spinach, raisins, papayas, lima beans, and tomatoes.” The New Abs Diet: The 6-Week Plan to Flatten Your Stomach and Keep You Lean for Life (The Abs Diet) (David Zinczenko and Ted Spiker). Page 23
- “Make it a low-sodium V8. Make that two 5.5-ounce cans: 11 ounces of V8 contains nearly 1,240 milligrams of potassium. The tomato juice also contains lycopene and lutein, two phytochemicals that have their own blood pressure-lowering properties.” The New Abs Diet: The 6-Week Plan to Flatten Your Stomach and Keep You Lean for Life (The Abs Diet) (David Zinczenko and Ted Spiker). Page 24