Potassium helps maintain intracellular osmotic pressure, which is the force required to stop the flow of water across a membrane. This is because most foods, especially at restaurants, are already high in sodium. Food sources rich in calcium include low-fat milk, green beans, sardines with bones, broccoli, spinach, and tofu. Good sources of magnesium-rich foods include any legumes and seeds, such as navy beans and sunflower seeds. This deposit of fat is known as atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis begins with the accu mulation of fatty streaks on the inner arterial walls.
When this fatty buildup enlarges and becomes hardened with minerals, such as calcium, it forms plaque. Plaque stiffens the arteries and narrows the passages through them. Thus, blood pressure rises . This rise in blood pressure is due to the arteries' lack of elasticity. Hypertension can also be treated with drugs.