Eat melons to keep BP under control

Nutrition experts say
there is no better way to lower blood pressure (BP)
than by indulging in some of the season`s potassium-rich
fruit and vegetables.

"Melons like cantaloupe and watermelon are particularly high in potassium,"
says Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition
at University of Texas-Southwestern (UTS) and spokesperson
for the American Dietetic Association.

"One-fourth of a cantaloupe contains 800 to 900 mg of
potassium, roughly 20 percent of the recommended daily value."

Two cups of watermelon contains nearly 10 percent of the daily recommended value, says a UTS release.

Sandon said dried apricots, avocados, figs, kiwi, oranges,
raisins, dates, beans, potatoes, tomatoes and even grapefruit
are other good sources of potassium.

The US department of agriculture recommends that most
adults get 4,044 milligrams of potassium from food and
beverages each day.