Consumption of one banana a day helps reduce high blood pressure and prevents atherosclerosis. The beneficial effect of the fruit is due to its high content of potassium - a trace element necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system, heart function, blood pressure.
Excessive salt intake is known to increase blood pressure. Potassium reduces its harmful effects.
Bananas contain an average of about 500 mg of potassium.
A number of studies have shown that following a diet rich in foods containing potassium, as well as magnesium and fiber , significantly reduces the risk of stroke. Consumption of three bananas every day significantly reduces this risk, according to scientists.
A review of 11 different studies, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, shows that a daily dose of about 1600 mg of potassium is enough to reduce the risk of stroke by more than 1/5.
Another US study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine , shows that eating foods high in fiber, such as bananas, helps prevent heart disease . Researchers have been tracking the eating habits of nearly 10,000 people for 19 years.
It turns out that people who consume the most fiber, 21 g per day, have a 12% lower risk of coronary heart disease.