Strokes occur over 750,000 times annually in America, with CDC statistics saying 130,000 deaths are caused by strokes annually. Luckily, anyone can incorporate an anti-stroke diet to lessen the chance of having a stroke. Some researchers with the  Karolinska Institute in Sweden conducted a meta-analysis review of several potassium studies and found that higher intakes of potassium was associated with reducing the risk of strokes.

The researchers suspected that potassium is an important factor in preventing stroke. Their analysis concluded that for every 1000 mg of potassium, stroke risk is reduced by 11%. This meta-analysis was reported in the July 2011 Journal Stroke and also reported in the British journal Lancet.

The same journal reports also mentioned increasing potassium levels to lower blood pressure. This seems to have been known for some time, but when is the last time a doctor told you or anyone else with high blood pressure to increase potassium intake, [amazon asin=B0021JMOKW&template=*lrc ad (right)]as opposed to prescribing medication?

About Potassium

Potassium is a vital electrolyte, important for electrical conductivity within our nervous system and for muscle function and formation. The heart is a muscle as well. So potassium’s influence of both electrical nerve impulses and muscle strength apply to heart health considerably. It’s estimated that people with high potassium blood levels have half the risk for heart attacks than those with “normal” levels of potassium.

Mostly located within our cells, potassium is the third most prevalent mineral in our bodies, exceeding sodium. Though potassium interacts with sodium for the above functions. It also uses sodium to balance our water levels and it assist our body’s pH buffering system to maintain a healthy slightly alkaline balance. This is critical to immunity and overall health.

Potassium helps dissolve excess calcium, preventing kidney stone formations and calcified tissues. Excess potassium is usually easily eliminated by the kidneys. Extreme potassium deficiency causes death, and too much is a problem as well.

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The Best of Paul Fassa

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