'Eat bananas and live longer'

Bananas, raisins and potatoes can help to lower blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.

For the first time, the association is recommending that people with high blood pressure should eat a diet which is high in minerals and low in fat, in addition to cutting back on salt.

Its Nutrition Committee says research shows a diet high in potassium, calcium and magnesium and low in fat and salt can reduce systolic (top number) blood pressure by an average of 5.5mm of mercury and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure by 3mm of mercury.

Research shows that reducing diastolic pressure by as little as 2mm can lower a person's risk of stroke by 15% and their risk of heart disease by 6%.

Source BBC News