Our body needs potassium to help our muscles contract, maintain fluid balance, and maintain a normal blood pressure. Normal potassium levels in the body help to keep the heart beating regularly. Potassium may help reduce the risk of kidney stones and also bone loss as we age. Here are a few foods that are higher in potassium than a banana.
Kidney Beans
Beans are an all-around healthy addition to your diet, as a good source of plant-based protein and filling fiber. One cup of this kidney beans brings 713 mg of potassium, per the USDA.
Potatoes
Nutritionally, potatoes get a bad rap, but that’s usually because of how they’re cooked (fried in oil as french fries, or smothered butter and cheese). But potatoes provide one of the best opportunities to get your daily requirement of potassium. Just about 900 mg of the nutrient can be found in just one potato.
Kiwi
Bananas tend to get all the credit when it comes to potassium-rich fruits, but a single small kiwifruit has nearly as much potassium, at 215 milligrams, as an entire banana.
Avocado
Avocado isn’t just high in fiber and heart-healthy fats, it’s also loaded with 690 mg of potassium, per the USDA. That makes it twice as good for your heart. Incorporating healthier monounsaturated fats into your diet via avocados may benefit your heart by raising “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute as medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute as medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.