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Rich in potassium, the potato can become a precious ally lasting the summer. It can fill the loss of this nutrient that one undergoes when the heat or the practice of physical activity has made us perspire.

Potassium assures several vital functions in the organism:

He / it acts in narrow collaboration with sodium to maintain the acid-basic balance of the body and the one of the fluids.
He / it intervenes in the contraction of the heart and muscles.
He / it contributes to the good working of the nervous system.
He / it helps towards the maintenance of the arterial pressure.
He / it facilitates the digestion.
How to get the maximum of potassium of the potato

Some researchers tempted to determine what is the best way to prepare the potato in order to lose the less possible potassium during cooking. According to their Results1, it is more the way one of which cuts or prepare the potatoes that the fashion of cooking that influences the concentration of potassium in the tuber, once in the plate.

Having studied six types of cultivated potatoes in North America, the researchers discovered that while cutting the potato in small cubes, one of 50% reduces the availability of potassium. And if these small cubes are soaked in water before cooking, this reduction reaches 75%.

It is why they recommend to make boil the potatoes, either whole, is cut in big pieces.

According to nutritionist Helen Baribeau, the adults need a daily contribution of 4.7 g in potassium.

"The best way to get the maximum of this essential mineral with the potato is to cook it at the oven with the peel, specify Helen Baribeau. One loses a little potassium if one peels it, but the concentration stays good."

On the other hand, she / it advises against French fries since they lose more potassium during cooking, in addition to contain a lot of saturated greasiness.

Other food sources of potassium

   Cooked beans (white, of soy, of Lima, pinto, red, navy), lentils and split pea Leaves of beets mushes Clams canned tomatoes in mash, canned fish (halibut, tuna to yellow flukes, of the Atlantic cod) Bananas

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