BA urges men to go bananas.(International Banana Association)

 Author/s: Issue: August 16, 2001

 The International Banana Association (IBA), is urging young men to eat more bananas in the
 light of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine on 25 June.

 According to the study, young men aged 18-39 who have higher than normal blood pressure
 are at a greater risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes
 later in life. Bananas, a good source of potassium, could be useful is lowering blood pressure
 and resulting heart diseases.

 Last year the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lent its official support to the view that
 a potassium-rich and low sodium diet may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and strokes.

 Bananas contain 467 milligrams of potassium, providing 13% of the current recommended
 average daily intake of 3 5000mg. They are also a free of sodium. "Bananas are among the
 top foods with the highest concentration of potassium," commented Tim Debus, the IBA's
 vice president. "The data are clear that potassium intake is associated with a high blood
 pressure-lowering effect."

COPYRIGHT 2001 Agra Europe Ltd.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group