10 Potassium Rich Foods

When we’re feeling sluggish or just need some energy most of us turn to coffee or some kind of energy drink. The health conscious energy seeker will skip past these drinks and instead reach for a banana. Bananas are a great source of potassium, about 420 milligrams in a medium size banana.

So why do we need potassium?

Our bodies need potassium to maintain normal blood pressure. A normal healthy balance of sodium and potassium are what regulate blood pressure. Too much sodium and too little potassium, results in hypertension. Prolonged hypertension or high blood pressure may result in other health related problems in the future.

I don’t like bananas, do other foods have potassium?

Don’t worry, there are many other foods that contain potassium and in some cases contain much more potassium than bananas. Potassium can be found in many vegetables and fruits. Here is a quick list of just ten healthy food items that contain high amounts of potassium.

1. Potatoes

2. Beans

3. Squash

4. Dates

5. Yogurt

6. Avocado

7. Tomato Sauce

8. Fish

9. Cantaloupe

10. Raisins

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Coffee and Health

Is Drinking Coffee Good or Bad For Our Overall Health?

We never hear much about coffee being either good or bad for us. We know caffeine is not considered very healthy, especially since it’s usually associated with high calorie soda or other unhealthy products. Studies have shown that coffee actually can help prevent some diseases and it is relatively low in calories compared to other caffeinated drinks. 1 8oz cup of coffee has about 5 calories before you add sugar, sweetener and creamer. These additives are what make coffee unhealthy and calorie heavy. Drinking 3 cups of black coffee per day may lower your risk of Hearth Disease, Stroke, Type 2 Diabetes and even liver cancer.

How does coffee help prevent such diseases?

Coffee is high in antioxidants and minerals like magnesium and chromium. These minerals help the body use insulin, which is what controls blood sugar. With Type 2 Diabetes your body no longer uses insulin to properly control blood sugar.  Type 2 Diabetes is also linked to heart disease and a number of other health related issues.

What about Caffeine?

We always associate caffeine as being unhealthy, but that’s because of some of the popular sodas and other unhealthy drinks that contain caffeine. Some health professionals are saying the caffeine that is consumed from drinking coffee, could have a positive effect on brain health.

These findings don’t promote drinking coffee in excess and certainly adding sugar, creamer and other calorie heavy items to the coffee over weigh the good aspects. Choosing to drink black coffee over soda and other unhealthy drinks is defiantly a step in the right direction.

How Many Calories In A Cup of Coffee