Pomelo: The new fruit source for potassium
Banana’s have historically been associated with increasing potassium. While they are a great source, they are not the best source.
Bananas have historically been associated
with increasing potassium intake in humans in the United States. It is true that bananas are a great source of potassium, but they no longer need to be the only source touted in the U.S.
A medium sized banana has 422 milligrams of potassium in it. This is only 12 percent of the recommended daily dietary guidelines. Pomelo is a citrus fruit from Asia and is a rich source of potassium. The pomelo looks very similar to a grapefruit, asides that it is larger and is much sweeter in taste. The rind of the pomelo is much thicker than that of a grapefruit. A pomelo contains 1,315 milligrams of potassium, 37 percent of the daily value for potassium.
Since the pomelo is a yellow fruit, it contains citrus antioxidants that protects the body from free radicals, which help to improve overall heart health. Yellow produce also helps in wound healing and aiding in digestion. Citrus fruits in general are packed with vitamin C, flavonoids and help reduce the spread of tumors.
Pomelos are not hard to find and can be bought from a local supermarket. Michigan State University Extension recommends this easy recipe that uses pomelo.
Serves: Two
Ingredients
- 1 big mango – cubed
- 2-3 pomelo segments
- 2 cups of salad leaves
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoons white wine vinegar (or any type of vinegar)
- Pinch of salt
Instructions: Toss all ingredients together & serve
