Potassium is a mineral present in the body, the highest concentration of which can be found in muscle and heart cells and in extracellular fluids.
In combination with sodium, potassium participates in muscle contraction, including that of the heart muscle. In addition, potassium helps reduce blood pressure, activates many enzymes involved in energy metabolism and participates in protein synthesis in the transformation of sugars into glycogen.
Potassium, therefore, is relevant to a lot of processes. In which foods can it be found in higher quantities? Let's find out.(Source: humanitas.it)
Potassium is a mineral present in the body, the highest concentration of which can be found in muscle and heart cells and in extracellular fluids. In combination with sodium, potassium participates in muscle contraction, including that of the heart muscle. In addition, potassium helps reduce blood pressure, activates many enzymes involved in energy metabolism and participates in protein synthesis in the transformation of sugars into glycogen. Potassium, therefore, is relevant to a lot of processes. In which foods can it be found in higher quantities? Let's find out. (Source: humanitas.it)
Those with potassium deficiencies, which are very rare in healthy people, may experience one of these symptoms: nausea, drowsiness, muscle fatigue, inattention, behavioural changes or cardiac arrhythmias.
It is estimated that an adult of normal weight and without any particular disease may need an intake of around 3500 mg of potassium per day. If the intake is higher, no scientific evidence has yet proven that this can be toxic to the body (provided one does not have problems with kidney function).
Potassium is present in almost all foods, but it is mainly in fresh, minimally processed vegetables that it is found in the highest quantities. Among the foods that contain the most potassium, in addition to the bananas already mentioned, are avocados, kiwis and currants. Important amounts of potassium can also be found in pistachios, nuts and dried legumes
Important amounts of potassium can also be found in spinach, fennel, artichokes and Brussels sprouts. Cooking food can contribute to partial loss of minerals such as potassium, so appropriate methods such as pressure cooking or steaming should be preferred.