Seaweed, like kelp, agar-agar and wakame, is a good source of both potassium and sodium. It’s also an excellent source of iodine, manganese and copper. Seaweed is a good source of fiber and protein. In addition, seaweed contains essential vitamins A, C and E; folate; iron; zinc; magnesium; phosphorus; copper; calcium; potassium and selenium.
Potassium (K) is an essential mineral that is required for proper heart function and muscle contraction. Sodium (Na) is necessary for nerve transmission, muscle contraction, water balance and blood pressure regulation. Although the body requires both K+ and Na+, you can easily get too much of either one through the foods you eat or beverages that you drink.
Vegetables high in potassium, low potassium fruits and vegetables, foods low in potassium and phosphorus, low potassium breakfast foods.
Vegetables low in potassium and sodium
Low-Sodium Vegetables: Vegetables are naturally low in sodium, but you should still read the labels on canned vegetables to ensure they do not have added salt. Many canned vegetables can have up to 400 mg of sodium per serving. The following list is from the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. If you want to know what amount of a nutrient is present in a food item, choose the food from this list then click on the link to access the USDA Nutrient Database.
Artichoke hearts (canned) – 2 cups (1/2 can) Artichoke hearts, drained – 1 cup Bamboo shoots (canned) – 1 cup Beets (cooked) – 1 medium Beet greens (cooked) – 1 cup Bok choy, chopped or sliced (cooked) – 1 cup Broccoli florets (cooked) – 1 cup Brussels sprouts (cooked) – 1 cup Cabbage, green or red (raw) – 1 cup Carrots (raw)
Potassium is a mineral that your body needs to keep muscles and nerves working smoothly, as well as for bone health. Potassium also helps regulate blood pressure and heart function. Most people don’t get enough potassium from their diets.
Here are some of the best sources of potassium:
Vegetables: Beet greens, spinach, avocado and sweet potatoes are just a few of the vegetables high in potassium. One cup of cooked spinach has 889 milligrams of potassium, which is more than half the daily recommended amount (2,000 milligrams). One medium avocado contains 926 milligrams of potassium, while one cup of cooked white potatoes has 854 milligrams. Other good sources include broccoli, celery and collard greens.
Fruits: Bananas contain more than 400 milligrams of potassium per medium-size fruit. Dried fruits such as raisins or apricots are also good sources; 1/2 cup of raisins has 684 milligrams per serving size (about 1/2 cup). Avocados also count toward your daily intake because they’re considered a fruit. Just 1/4 cup mashed avocado contains 320 milligrams of potassium.
Vegetables are a great source of nutrients, but they also contain some sodium. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting the amount of sodium you consume to less than 2,300 milligrams per day. But if you have heart disease or high blood pressure, the recommendation is even lower — 1,500 milligrams per day.
Vegetables can be part of a healthy diet because they’re low in fat and calories and provide essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. If you need to limit your sodium but want to include vegetables in your diet, choose those that are naturally lower in sodium.
For people who don’t eat meat or dairy products, such as vegans and vegetarians, it may be more difficult to meet the daily recommended intake for potassium. The following foods are high in potassium:
Winter squash (butternut) — 770 mg per cup
Spinach — 549 mg per cup
Beets (cooked) — 463 mg per cup
A low-potassium diet is one that limits your intake of potassium. Potassium, a mineral found in most foods, helps regulate your body’s water and electrolyte balance. Excessive intake of potassium can be dangerous for people with certain medical conditions, so a low-potassium diet can help reduce the risk of health problems.
Potassium-rich foods include fruits like bananas and citrus fruits, vegetables such as potatoes and spinach, dairy products like milk and yogurt, nuts like almonds and peanuts and whole grains like brown rice. While it’s possible to get too much potassium from food alone — eating more than 4,000 milligrams daily — the amount of potassium in food doesn’t have as much impact on blood levels as does the amount consumed when taking supplements or medications containing potassium.
Potassium supplements are often used as part of heart failure treatment regimens because they may help lower blood pressure by reducing fluid retention in the body. People taking heart medication may need to avoid excess amounts of potassium in foods or supplements because this can cause irregular heartbeat or fatal heart rhythm disturbances called arrhythmias.
The recommended daily intake of potassium is 4,700 milligrams for men 51 years old or younger and women 51 years old or younger
Potassium is an electrolyte that helps control your body’s water balance and blood pressure. It also plays a role in muscle contraction, nerve function, and energy production. Potassium is found in many foods and can be easily lost when you sweat or get dehydrated.
The following vegetables are high in potassium:
1. Sweet potato, baked (1/2 cup): 938 milligrams
2. Acorn squash (1/2 cup): 583 milligrams
3. Butternut squash (1/2 cup): 464 milligrams
4. Yam, cooked (1/2 cup): 337 milligrams
5. Kale, cooked (1/2 cup): 300 milligrams
6. Spinach, cooked (1/2 cup): 241 milligrams
7. Potato, baked (1 medium): 221 milligrams
Potassium is found in a wide variety of vegetables, but the most common sources are potatoes and tomatoes. Other good sources include spinach, broccoli, peas, carrots, peppers and beans. You can improve your potassium intake by choosing vegetables that are lower in sodium.
Low potassium fruits and vegetables
Fruits that provide less than 50 milligrams of potassium per serving include prunes, dried apricots, cranberries, pomegranates and raisins. Other fruits that provide less than 100 milligrams of potassium include cantaloupe, bananas, grapefruit juice and orange juice. The best way to increase your fruit intake is by eating whole fruits rather than drinking juices or eating fruit salads made from canned or frozen fruit.
Foods that contain less than 100 milligrams of potassium include ice cream, milk chocolate bars and cheese. These foods also contain high amounts of phosphorus which may lead to kidney stones if you consume too much at one time. To avoid this problem, limit yourself to 4 ounces (112 grams) per day for each of these foods.
Here are some of the best vegetables to eat if you are trying to stay away from too much sodium and increase your potassium intake:
White potatoes, sweet potatoes, avocado, broccoli, spinach, kale, tomatoes, green beans and lima beans.
Fruits high in potassium
The following fruits have a good amount of potassium: bananas and mangoes (1/4 cup each); oranges (1 medium orange), kiwi (1 fruit), cantaloupe (1/2 cup) and papaya (1/4 cup).
Low potassium foods
Foods low in both phosphorus and sodium include: milk; white bread; pasta; rice; eggs; yogurt; cottage cheese; chicken breast; turkey breast; tuna fish; seafood such as shrimp, crab or salmon; beef chuck roast or sirloin tip roast.
In addition to being low in potassium, these foods are also low in phosphorus.
Foods High in Potassium
Vegetables high in potassium include artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and leafy greens such as spinach, kale and collard greens. Fruits high in potassium include papaya, kiwi, cantaloupe and bananas.
Foods that are relatively low in both phosphorus and magnesium include seafood such as shrimp and lobster; lean meats such as chicken breast; lentils; tofu; beans such as black beans or kidney beans; plain yogurt; eggs; most cheeses except cottage cheese (1/2 cup serving) and ricotta cheese (1/2 cup serving); cream cheese (1 ounce); plain cereal without raisins such as Cheerios® or Rice Krispies® Original Cereal; oatmeal (1/3 cup cooked); popcorn (plain kernels popped with oil); pasta made from durum wheat semolina flour (whole wheat spaghetti contains more than 100 mg of phosphorus per serving); rice cakes (plain rice cakes contain 80 mg of phosphorus per two crackers).
Low potassium foods are nutrient-dense and provide a variety of health benefits. They include:
Vegetables, fruits, and legumes
Vegetables, fruits, and legumes are some of the best sources of potassium. Vegetable juice is also an excellent source of this mineral.
Some examples include:
Potassium-rich vegetables: spinach, celery, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and potatoes
Fruits: bananas and cantaloupe melon
Legumes: chickpeas, lentils, lima beans
Low potassium foods are fruits, vegetables, and grains that contain less than 20 milligrams of potassium per serving. Low potassium foods are important for people who have high blood pressure or heart disease.
Potassium is an important mineral that helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels and normal heart function. Potassium also plays a role in muscle contraction and the transmission of nerve impulses.
The kidneys help regulate potassium levels in the body by releasing it into your bloodstream when you consume too much and holding onto it when you don’t consume enough. If your kidneys are not working properly or if you have a condition that affects kidney function — such as diabetes — low potassium levels can occur even if you eat a healthful diet.