MISSING MINERALS (Part 1)

Did you know what you don’t eat can hurt you?

We are all aware that we eat too much of many things—sugar, salt, saturated fats, alcohol, and food in general! But there are also important nutrients that we simply don’t get enough of that can increase our risk of serious health problems, including high blood pressure and diabetes.  Over the next several weeks The Daily Blend will explore the vital role minerals such as Potassium, Magnesium, and Iodine play in health powered living, and how YG Exotic Blend and good food choices can help you get what you may be missing!

Potassium
The September 2010 issue of Nutrition Action Healthletter reports that one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, or hypertension, and more than half don’t have it under control, including a fourth who don’t even know they have it!  The vast majority of people who suffer stroke, heart attack or congestive heart failure have hypertension, so the risks are great. While excessive weight, processed foods with lots of sodium, and lack of exercise are some of the factors that contribute to high blood pressure, a diet with adequate potassium can help.

Multiple research studies have documented that potassium can lower blood pressure, and long-term clinical trials demonstrate its role in prevention of heart attack and stroke. Scientists aren’t sure exactly why, but believe it may be the role potassium plays in keeping arteries flexible and by dilating small blood vessels.  Nevertheless, 90 percent of men and 99 percent of women get less potassium than experts recommend (4,700 mg a day).

What to do?
Nutritional experts recommend eating 11 servings of potassium-rich fruits and vegetables a day, and discourage high-dose potassium supplements, which can be hazardous. (An added bonus is that the potassium in foods may also help prevent kidney stones.)   A single serving each of greens and sweet potato can provide about 1,200 mg or 25% of the daily requirement, though most foods are less than 10%.

If 11 servings of fruits and vegetables seem daunting, remember that SIX of the ingredients in YG Exotic Blend provide potassium, and several of them at significant levels.  Gogi berries provide the most, with a whopping 1,132 mg per 100 grams of dried fruit, followed by Camu Camu, Mangosteen, Acai, Noni, and of course, Kelp.   While it is difficult to determine exact clinical potency of whole food concentrates, it is safe to assume that 3 ounces a day of YG Exotic Blend does provide a healthy boost of this important nutrient. And, you can cut back on the number of servings and calories involved in consuming all that food!

For specific citations of research studies referenced and an extensive listing of the potassium content of many whole foods, see the Nutrition Action Healthletter, September 2010, published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC or consult the website at www.cspinet.org.