[ 2024 ] 🍌 Why Bananas Are BAD For Potassium, Blood Pressure & Sugar

I don’t know why, but if you ask someone what’s a good source of potassium, most people always say the same thing – Bananas. Maybe the Chiquita Banana company did some great commercials for it in the old days, but I don’t get it.

I bring this up because I had a subscriber ask me the following question:

“Dear Dr. Robbins – I’d like your advice, please. I went to my doctor and he said I have blood pressure problems. He prescribed me a drug for it and then to my surprise, gave me some nutritional and diet advice. He said I need to eliminate salt from my diet and eat more bananas for potassium, which will improve my blood pressure. What do you think?”

You’re right, I’m really surprised he gave you any diet advice, even though he was wrong.

Diagnosing someone with blood pressure problems is the easiest job in the world. The nurse takes your blood pressure and it’s usually with an automated machine – so no work for the doctor. If it’s high, your doctor has immediate “evidence” to prescribe you a  drug and that’s it. He’s done and he moves on to the next patient.

No exams or blood tests or scans. It takes them a couple of minutes.

Super easy for the doctor.

Your Doctor’s “Bad” Recommendations

So, get back to your doctor’s “bad” recommendations.

First, you should NOT eliminate salt at all. Your body and most of the planet are made of saltwater. I put natural salts on most of my food – Himalayan or Celtic salt. They have minerals that help balance the sodium and help reduce anxiety and stress hormones, such as cortisol.

The real problem with salt is what’s found in all packaged foods. So, the better suggestion is to eliminate packaged foods, not salt.

Secondly, bananas are not an ideal food source for potassium. Especially if you want healthy blood pressure because bananas are high in sugar. They have a high glycemic index and load. Thus, they increase blood sugar levels, which raises blood pressure.

What Are Better Potassium Sources?

There are much better and healthier foods, that have higher amounts of potassium and fewer calories: [** potassium per 100 grams (mg)]

Compared to Bananas (328 mg; 135 calories)

Vegetables

• Beet Greens (909 mg; 19 calories)
• Chard, swiss (549 mg; 18 calories)
• Spinach (466 mg; 21 calories)
• Tomato paste (1,014 mg; 54 calories)

Fruit

• Dried Apricots (1162 mg; 78 calories)

Carbs

• Yams (670 mg; 79 calories)

Protein

• Wild-caught salmon (628 mg; 155 calories)
• Soybeans (539 mg; 127 calories)

Fats

• Avocado (which is really a fruit) (585 mg; 120 calories)

There are a lot of other foods, but I wanted to list some of the best and give you all the macronutrient options as well – proteins, fats, carbs, and so forth.

Additionally, if you needed more potassium and didn’t want to eat these foods, your last option is that you can also take potassium pills as well. The CITRATE version. Take 1 pill, which is 99 mgs, 2-3x daily with food.

Don’t forget to also increase your water intake.

Natural Solution

And if you want healthy blood pressure, there are also some amazing herbs, vitamins, and minerals that can help support healthy blood pressure better than drugs, while also improving the strength of your arteries and veins.

At the end of this article, I’ve listed the best nutrients and also how my own father supported healthy blood pressure in just a few days – naturally.

Take action on what you’ve learned today. Please don’t just listen and walk away.

Eat some of the foods I mentioned today and take proven ingredients that I’ve listed in a special link to support your health and healthy blood pressure levels.