Are you getting enough potassium?

Are you getting enough potassium? A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that only 2% of the U.S. population is meeting its needs for this important mineral.

It’s unlikely that we’re doing much better here in Canada, and that means the average intake is only about half the recommended 4700 mg per day.

What’s more, the numbers show our potassium intake has been declining since the 1980’s.

Potassium is critical for heart health, it’s important for building healthy bones and for muscle function – which is why you often see athletes reaching for a banana. Other foods high on the potassium scale include baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, plain yogurt and soybeans.

The thing is you’ll need about 15 daily servings of a variety of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats and fish, and beans and legumes to meet your needs for the day. That adds up to a healthy diet and this study shows most of us aren’t getting that.