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Raisins
are rich in potassium while low in sodium (3 oz contains 646 mg
potassium and 10 mg sodium). It is well accepted that potassium
helps to reduce blood pressure. The DASH-Sodium diet (Dietary Approaches
to Stop Hypertension), which is rich in potassium, has been successfully
used to treat patients with high blood pressure.
Other benefits of a potassium in the diet include:
- It may reduce the risk of stroke (independent of its effect
on blood pressure)
- It may help prevent the development of some types of kidney
disease
- It reduces calcium excretion which may help bone health and
reduce the formation of kidney stones
- It may play a role in carbohydrate intolerance
- It may help reduce the risk of heart arrhythmias in some patients
with heart disease.
He, FJ and MacGregor, GA. Potassium: more beneficial effects.
Climacteric Supplement, 3, 36-48, 2003.
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