Low-potassium foods are the key to healthy living when you have kidney problems. What is the low-potassium diet? Which foods have low enough potassium levels to safely eat once you require the low-potassium diet? Curiosity is the best remedy before changing your diet.
Our list of low-potassium foods will help you keep things interesting and colorful on your plate. It’s essential to limit potassium but also get enough as the mineral has many important bodily functions. Discover our list of low-potassium foods and some that are higher.
Low-potassium foods are any food with fewer than 200 milligrams of the mineral per serving. Some vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and drinks are low-potassium. Here’s a quick look at three low-potassium foods from each major food group (2, 1, 8, 9):
Still, let’s discover why potassium is controlled in certain individuals, the list of foods to eat and avoid, and how to reduce potassium in some foods.
Let’s reveal why potassium is a balancing act before showing you the low and high-potassium foods to eat and avoid. Also, you’ll find recommendations as general guidelines but should discuss your personal health with your healthcare provider.
The National Institute of Health suggests potassium is a mineral vital to various bodily functions, including muscle contractions, nerve transmission, and heart and kidney health (7). The recommended daily amount depends on your age, sex, and more.
For example, adult women need at least 2,600 milligrams and men need 3,400 milligrams daily. Meanwhile, pregnant women need 2,900 milligrams. Your kidneys typically excrete the extra potassium your body doesn’t need if you’re healthy.
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Some people can’t consume the recommended amount of potassium and should discuss the decrease with healthcare providers as low-potassium diets are highly personalized to your needs and health condition. High levels of potassium are dangerous, but so are low levels.
The Queen’s Medical Research Institute suggests high potassium levels, also known as hyperkalemia, could have serious and even life-threatening adverse effects (5). Hyperkalemia occurs when the kidney’s filtration systems malfunction, preventing the extra potassium from exiting in your urine.
Risk factors for hyperkalemia include type 1 diabetes, congestive heart failure, adrenal diseases, liver disease, and kidney disorders among others (7, 5).
You may be at risk of complications from consuming too much potassium if your body can’t excrete it as it should. On the other hand, you may also be at risk for low potassium, also known as hypokalemia, another dangerous electrolyte imbalance.
Hypokalemia may put you at risk of muscle spasms, metabolic acidosis, kidney disease, weakness, paralysis, and respiratory problems (6). Hypokalemia does not commonly occur from eating too little potassium, but not getting enough potassium in the diet might increase the risk of high blood pressure, kidney stones, insulin resistance and lower bone mineral density. Eating the recommended potassium amounts suggested by a healthcare practitioner based on your individual situation could prevent both low and high potassium.
The recommended amount of potassium on a low-potassium diet is highly personalized, according to your age, sex, medical history, and kidney function. Aim to keep your total daily intake below the limit your healthcare provider suggests to you.
Additionally, limit your potassium per serving by consuming foods with under 200 milligrams of the mineral. Therefore, some foods will contain too much potassium in larger portions.
All food contains some potassium so limiting portions is essential. Furthermore, potassium could interact negatively with ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, potassium-sparing diuretics, and loop and thiazide diuretics (7). Please consult with your healthcare provider before reducing your potassium amount.
Almost no food has zero potassium (8). The USDA’s Food Data Central nutrient ranking tool shows that even dried chives, raw ginger, olives, raw cilantro, garlic, jalapenos, ketchup, peppers, tomatoes, pickles, and shiitake mushrooms have 2-50 milligrams per serving (2).
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Finally, let’s see which vegetables, fruits, grains, cereals, proteins, and snacks have lower potassium when you follow the recommended portion of ½ cup unless stated otherwise. Additionally, some low-potassium foods are only low in specified versions, such as cooked. If it doesn’t specify, you can prepare it any way you choose.
Low-potassium vegetables have less than 200 milligrams of the mineral per ½ cup serving (unless stated otherwise) (2, 1). Also, please note whether vegetables are cooked, fresh, or dried.
Our low-potassium fruits work the same as the vegetables, aiming for under 200 milligrams per ½ cup serving unless shown otherwise (2, 1):
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The same goes for your low-potassium protein sources, which are limited to under 200 milligrams per serving indicated below (2):
Breakfast foods include grains, cereals, and more. Each low-potassium choice has under 200 milligrams per ½ cup serving unless stated otherwise (2):
You can put together a complete meal for dinner by choosing a low potassium vegetable, a small serving of protein (according to your individual restrictions), and one of the following grain products, which have under 200 mg of potassium per cup and are also relatively low in phosphorus and sodium.
Finally, discover some low-potassium drinks with fewer than 200 milligrams of potassium per suggested serving (2, 1, 8).
Some foods are relatively high in potassium, of which we share a few below (2, 8, 9). Meanwhile, some are high in phosphorus, which often also needs to be limited for individuals with kidney disease (3). In some cases, you can enjoy these foods in small serving sizes. Talk to your healthcare provider for individualized advice.
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Read labels before buying any product in-store. Ensure your potassium intake will remain within 200 milligrams per serving or your individual maximum daily. Some quick tips can help you reduce potassium and other minerals you need to balance.
The National Kidney Foundation recommends the leaching method to reduce potassium (8):
Cooked oatmeal has less than 200 milligrams of potassium per cup serving (2). However, it also has nearly 200 milligrams of phosphorus. Phosphorus is another mineral that often needs to be avoided or limited if you have kidney disease (3). Talk to your healthcare provider for individualized recommendations.
No, one large, hard-boiled egg has 63 milligrams of potassium (4). Eating two hard-boiled eggs would still be less than 200 milligrams of potassium. However, it does have 86 milligrams of phosphorus, so you’ll need to take that into account if you’re limiting phosphorus as well (3).
Coffee isn’t high in potassium if you limit the amount you drink daily. The National Kidney Foundation recommends sticking to 8 fl. oz. of coffee daily (8). The potassium levels may rise if you drink more coffee in a day.
With nearly 200 low-potassium foods, you can enjoy every moment of your healthier life. Kidney problems aren’t your enemy once you learn how to eat right, and having so many foods to choose from makes it a lot easier. Pick some foods and try them now.
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