WebMD reports that one of the most important things you can do to prevent heart disease is to begin implementing a heart-healthy diet. This includes fruits and vegetables, like avocados and bananas. The experts at ReactDx discuss exactly what it is about these foods that benefit your heart.
The Problem: Stiff Arteries
According to the Mayo Clinic, healthy arteries are flexible and elastic. Unfortunately, high blood pressure can cause the arteries to become more stiff and narrow, which restricts proper blood flow. The organization points out that this can lead to ischemic heart disease and even a stroke.
The Study: How Mice Responded to Potassium
The University of Alabama at Birmingham conducted a study on mice to see how foods that are rich in potassium, like avocados and bananas, would affect the arteries. The study was led by Yabing Chen, Ph.D., a UAB professor of pathology and a Research Career Scientist at the Birmingham VA Medical Center.
The mice were divided up into three groups. The first group was given a minimal amount of potassium, while the second was fed a typical amount. The third group consumed a high amount of potassium. At the end of the study, Chen discovered that the mice who feasted on high levels of potassium had the least constricted arteries of all three groups.
The Takeaway: Add More Avocados and Bananas to Your Diet
Although the study was conducted on mice, it is a good idea to add more avocados and bananas to your diet. The important thing to remember is not to go over the recommended daily potassium limit, or you could open yourself up to complications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests consuming 3,500 mg of potassium per day, so that should be your ultimate goal.
You may want to discuss these findings with your doctor and nutritionist to come up with an eating plan that will keep your arteries healthy. A cardiologist may even want to monitor your heart before and after you add the potassium to get a better picture of how the change is affecting your body. ReactDx’s mobile cardiac monitor is an excellent tool for this, and you can call us with any questions at 800-234-3278. You’ll also want to check out the latest information on heart health on our Heart Health Page.
At ReactDx, we have been advancing diagnostic cardiology since 1981. ReactDx develops, manufactures, and provides service with the most reliable and sophisticated mobile cardiac monitoring systems in the world. Since its inception, ReactDx has been at the forefront of the cardiac telemedicine industry – pioneering technology, improving existing technologies and adding new applications.
