SAN FRANCISCO—A diet of potassium-rich foods such as bananas, leafy greens and potatoes may reduce the risk of stroke and coronary artery disease, according to new findings presented March 3 at the American Heart Association’s Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism conference.
As reported by HealthDay News, Italian researchers based the findings on 10 studies published between 1966 and 2009 that included almost 280,000 adults. During follow-ups that ranged from five to 19 years, there were more than 5,500 strokes and almost 3,100 coronary heart disease events. Higher potassium intake was associated with a 19-percent lower risk of stroke and an 8-percent lower risk of coronary heart disease.
Another study revealed that people with a high intake (more than 262 grams per day) of raw fruits and vegetables were 36-percent less likely to suffer a stroke than those with a low intake (less than 92 grams per day) of raw fruits and vegetables.
