There are many fruits and vegetables that are low in potassium. It is important to note that these foods may not be appropriate for people on special diets or those who are trying to lose weight. Potassium is an essential nutrient and should be consumed each day. However, certain chronic conditions, including diabetes, kidney disease, and heart failure can cause you to lose too much potassium through urination or gastrointestinal losses. This can lead to dangerous levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia).
Potassium is found in a wide variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables. Some of the most popular fruits include bananas, oranges and apricots. Vegetables include potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants.
If you have high blood pressure or other health conditions that lead to excessive potassium loss from your body, it may be necessary for you to restrict your intake of some foods high in potassium. For example:
•Cantaloupe contains about 400 mg of potassium per cup; watermelon has about 940 mg per cup; honeydew melon has about 1,200 mg per cup; papaya has about 950 mg per mcup; pineapple has approximately 1,400 mg per cup; cucumbers have approximately 500 mg per cup
Here are some low potassium foods for kidney patients:
High potassium foods to avoid:
Potatoes, baked, with skin – 610mg
Spinach, cooked – 586mg
Cabbage, raw – 585mg
Carrots, baby, raw – 576mg
Beets, canned, drained solids – 556mg
Celery stalks, raw – 495mg
Broccoli florets and stems, raw – 488mg
Sweet potato fries (French fried) – 484mg
Collards greens, frozen and thawed – 481mg
Figs, canned in syrup (entire fruit) – 471mg
Parsnips, cooked with skin – 445mg
The following foods are low in potassium and phosphorus:
Vegetables
Artichokes
Asparagus
Beets
Bok choy (Chinese cabbage)
Brussels sprouts
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard, Swiss or rainbow
Collard greens, cooked (3/4 cup) (134 mg)
Cucumbers, with peel (1/2 cup) (5 mg)
Eggplant, cooked (1/2 cup) (2 mg)**(** add salt to taste) Fried Eggplant recipe https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/191324/fried-eggplant/
Garlic, fresh or dried**(**add salt to taste)**(** add pepper to taste) https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/garlic-benefits#section3
Foods low in potassium
The following foods are low in potassium:
Vegetables
Asparagus, broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, celery, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, iceberg lettuce, mushrooms, okra, peas (fresh), pumpkin (canned), spinach, squash (winter), sweet potato/yam (baked) and zucchini/summer squash
Fruits
Apricots (dried), bananas (frozen or cooked), blueberries (fresh), cantaloupe (raw), cranberries (dried) and strawberries
The potassium content in fruits and vegetables varies, but the majority of them are low in potassium. However, some foods are particularly high in potassium, including potatoes, bananas and avocados. If you’re looking to lower your intake of this mineral, some high-potassium foods to avoid include:
Sweet potatoes
Potatoes (baked, boiled)
Bananas
Avocados
Spinach
Potassium is an essential mineral that plays a role in maintaining fluid balance and normal heart function. It is found in a wide variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables, milk, meat and fish.
The average daily intake of potassium for an adult is 4,700 mg per day. While this may seem like a lot, it’s actually not very much at all. Most people consume far less than they need to maintain good health and prevent disease.
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Potassium-rich foods include:
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes
Beets
Avocados
Bananas
Foods low in potassium and phosphorus
While you don’t need to avoid these foods entirely, it’s important to limit them. Your doctor may recommend that you avoid these foods if you are on dialysis.
High potassium foods to avoid
Some types of food are naturally high in potassium and should be avoided by people with kidney disease. These include:
Processed meats (hot dogs, sausage, cold cuts)
Dried beans and peas (white beans, black-eyed peas)
Potatoes (baked potatoes, french fries)
Spinach and most leafy greens (spinach, kale)
Cabbage family vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts)
Foods Low in Potassium and Phosphorus
Foods Low in Potassium and Phosphorus
The following foods are low in potassium and phosphorus:
1. Cereals: Rice, wheat, corn and oats have a very low content of these minerals (except for enriched).
2. Meat: Beef, lamb, pork and chicken contain only small amounts of these minerals; fish contains even less.
3. Fruits: Apples, oranges, grapefruits and bananas are good sources of potassium but they also contain some phosphorus; other fruits have very little of either mineral.
4. Vegetables: Tomatoes, potatoes and carrots are good sources of potassium but they also contain some phosphorus; other vegetables have very little of either mineral.
Foods low in potassium and phosphorus
Protein-rich foods, eggs, fish and poultry are all good sources of potassium. Potassium is also found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. The following table lists some of the best sources of potassium:
Foods High in Potassium (milligrams)
Foods Low in Potassium (milligrams)
Milk, 1 cup (8 ounces) (276 mg)
Low-fat milk, 1 cup (8 ounces)***ENDWRITEENDWRITEENDWRITEENDWRITEENDWRITEENDWRITEENDWRITEENDWRITE
The potassium-to-sodium ratio is an important factor in determining your risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney stones. Potassium helps keep your kidneys working properly, while sodium can cause fluid retention and high blood pressure. This can lead to heart attack, stroke or kidney failure.
While a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables will provide you with potassium, there are some foods that are particularly high in this mineral. Foods high in potassium include bananas, potatoes, prunes and sweet potatoes. Some dairy products such as yogurt and milk also contain high levels of potassium as well as some cereals and breads that are fortified with vitamins and minerals.
Potassium-rich foods are best eaten in moderation because they may cause gastrointestinal distress if consumed in large quantities at one time. It’s best to spread these types of meals throughout the day instead of eating them all at once.
Foods Low In Potassium And Phosphorus
These foods contain little or no potassium but high levels of phosphorus:
1) Baked white bread (1 slice)
2) Chocolate chip cookie (1 cookie)
3) Corn chips (10 chips)
4) White rice (1/2 cup cooked)
High potassium foods to avoid
There are some foods that you should avoid if you have low potassium levels. These include:
Alcohol
Caffeine
Coconut water
Fruit juices
Spices (especially chili powder)
Soda (diet or regular)
Low-potassium foods are those that contain less than 20mg of potassium per serving. Examples include apple juice, egg whites and chicken breast.
High-potassium foods contain more than 200mg of potassium per serving. Examples include spinach, bananas, beans and kidney beans.
Foods low in potassium and phosphorus are those that contain fewer than 10mg of each nutrient per serving. Examples include broccoli, cheese and whole wheat bread.
Low-potassium breakfast foods are those that contain less than 20mg of potassium per 100 grams or 3.5 ounces. Examples include oatmeal with raisins, toast with peanut butter and orange juice.
Low-potassium foods for kidney patients are those that contain less than 40mg of potassium per 100 grams or 3.5 ounces. Examples include cooked white rice, cooked brown rice, cooked macaroni noodles, cooked spaghetti noodles and cooked white potatoes.