Too much sodium is notorious for increasing blood pressure, but a bigger problem for your heart may actually be having too little potassium in your body in relation to the amount of salty stuff. A recent study found that a key to heart attack and stroke risk was the ratio between sodium and potassium levels in the urine, not the concentration of either element alone. As the ratio of sodium to potassium increased so did the risk for a cardiovascular event. Want to boost your potassium? Eat more of the foods listed below. (People with kidney disease may need to limit potassium in their diet and should consult a doctor.)
Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, Jan. 12, 2009

Potassium-Rich Foods

It’s recommended that adults consume 4,700 mg of potassium per day.

Source: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Wondering about sodium content? It may be high in unexpected places.

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