"Good Salt" : Potassium

Do you sometimes notice athletes or bodybuilders eat food which is rich in potassium such as bananas, before the training sessions? Would eating a lot of bananas or fruits everyday is a good idea?  Many might think that eating plenty of fruits daily is good for health. For me, I disagree and DO NOT think that consuming plenty of fruits daily is beneficial to health. In fact, it is a recipe for Diabetes, Obesity and other host of diseases. Why? sugar content especially fructose level in fruits. Anyway, let's focus on potassium and discuss about the benefits of this mineral to our body, as well as the types of veggies and fruits which are rich in this mineral.

Potassium, an essential mineral "salt" sometimes referred to as the "good salt,". A proper balance of potassium both inside and outside your cells is crucial for your body to function properly. As an electrolyte,  potassium is a positive charged ion that must maintain a certain concentration in order to carry out its functions, which includes interacting with sodium to help control nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction and heart function.

Potassium is widely available in fruits and vegetables, but if you eat a highly processed diet, there's a chance you're not getting enough. Furthermore, it's generally recommended that you take in five times more potassium than sodium,  but most people get two times more sodium than potassium. So if you have high blood pressure, it could be a sign that you're lacking in this vital mineral. Signs of severe potassium deficiency include fatigue, muscle weakness, abdominal pain and cramps.

What type of fruits commonly have good source of potassium? Banana is one of the most widely available and consumed fruit amongst society. Many people immediately think of bananas when it comes to potassium, but you don't need to eat bananas to make sure you're getting enough. One reason, fruits like bananas, are very high in sugar, especially fructose. Bananas do contain potassium, but so does the vast majority of other fruits and veggies. 

From my point of view, I would recommend Avocado. Yes, it is a bit more expensive comparing the price with bananas, but this fruit is very low in sugar, twice as much potassium, and is good source of monounsaturated and saturated fat. A piece of medium size Avocado, could easily contain less then 1g of sugar and up to 40g of 'good' fat. It is one of the 'superfruits' which has many beneficial nutrients. 

Also, below are some of the fruits/vegetables which I would recommend for daily consumption and they DO NOT cause insulin spike in the blood.

• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Celery
• Carrots
• Avocado