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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Harriette Boucher

Could bananas be the key to fighting heart disease?

  • A new study indicates that increasing potassium intake can reduce the risk of heart disease, irregular heartbeats, and death by up to 24 per cent.
  • Potassium-rich foods, such as leafy greens, bananas, salmon, and broccoli, help the body eliminate excess sodium, which is known to increase cardiovascular disease risk.
  • Researchers found that higher potassium levels in the blood were significantly linked to a reduced risk of heart events, hospital stays, or death from any cause.
  • Professor Henning Bundgaard highlighted that the modern diet, rich in processed foods, has reversed the historical potassium-to-sodium ratio, stressing potassium's vital role in heart function.
  • The findings, presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress, suggest that a higher dietary intake of potassium could benefit everyone, not just those with existing heart conditions.

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