A new study found a link between eating foods rich in potassium and weight loss. It was an observational study that continued for eight years in a medical center for metabolic obesity in the endocrine institute.
The study was published in a medical journal and showed that the higher the potassium intake the higher the chance of losing weight.
The researchers described the process of the study.
Participants were placed on a balanced weight loss diet for one year. The diet provided about one point two grams of protein per kilogram through animal protein fish poultry or cheese vegetables fruits and sunflower seeds.
Later they added starchy foods.
At the end of the year the participants managed to reduce their body weight. The result was more significant when the potassium intake in the diet was higher.
Another interesting finding showed a connection between this diet and a lower general risk of illness. Blood tests taken after a year showed that many of the participants had lower glucose levels lower blood fat levels and lower blood pressure.
The body fat percentage also dropped significantly.
The researchers explained that people with excess weight have fat cells that appear in blood tests as inflammatory.
When one of the antioxidants for example potassium is higher it reduces inflammatory processes.
The most potassium was found in poultry and fish.
The study checked which foods provide the highest amount of potassium. Poultry and fish provided the highest percentage that supported weight loss but vegetables and fruits also help and are important.
Large amounts of potassium are found in certain vegetables especially leafy vegetables.
It is also found in other foods like nuts and seeds.
These foods are also rich in antioxidants natural substances with biological activity that help detoxification in the liver increase the rate of energy burning and increase fat burning. The study also found that this diet may help reduce abdominal fat.
The study is open for participants.
Conditions include BMI over thirty and at least two health issues such as high blood pressure or balanced blood pressure through medication high glucose levels up to one hundred twenty six triglycerides above one hundred fifty HDL lower than forty five for men and lower than fifty for women.
The effect of different diet compositions on weight loss has been tested in many studies.
Until now most studies focused on diets high in protein fats or carbohydrates.
Until today no researchers published the advantages of potassium in relation to weight loss. The researchers said they are glad to be the first to prove it.