Do you know how good bananas are for you?
And for your heart especially?
Well, it's becasue of the potassium they contain. And it's potassium that keeps your heart rate stable and beating at the right rhythm.
Sure a rapid heart rate doesn’t sound too serious. But it is!
It means you heart doesn't have enough time to rest and refill with blood, so it only pushes out little bits at a time. And that's not good for your heart or your organs.
In fact, if your heart beats more than 100 a minute, it can result in heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
But what exactly are heart palpitations?
Palpitations come in various forms. There’s:
And there are a variety of things that cause it. This includes “electrolyte imbalances, adrenaline, anaemia, heart disease, arrhythmias, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and, of course, anxiety disorders,” explains wellsphere.com.
When it comes to tachycardia, an electrolyte imbalance is generally to blame. And that's where the link between bananas and heart palpitations comes in...
#1: “Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and potassium is needed to maintain a low heart rate,” states naturalnews.com.
Why do you think athletes don't leave the house without a banana in each hand on race day? It's becasue they provide them with optimal electrolytes and keep their heart beats under control while they exercise too.
#2: Like bananas, orange juice is rich in potassium and this helps balance electrolytes, adds anxietyguru.com.
So, if you're not big into bananas, you can eat oranges too. But obviously it's better to eat bananas.
#3: Or try a handful of raisins, says livestrong.com. They too are packed full of electrolyte balancing potassium.
Well, there you have it. If you suffer from an elevated heart rate or suffer from heart palpitations, eat foods rich in potassium. They’ll help balance your electrolytes and bring your heart rate under control.
PS: If you take medications to control your heart beat, it's best to chat to your doctor about eating bananas as they might interfere with what the medication is supposed to do.