Potassium is a mineral found in many foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, dried beans, and peas. It helps steady blood pressure and also helps muscles like the heart contract the right way.
People with kidney problems or those who are taking certain medicines may need to eat this way. Potassium can build up to harmful levels in the blood in people who have kidney problems. This can lead to confusion, irregular heartbeats, or a heart attack.
The foods in the left-hand column have more than 200 milligrams (mg) per serving. People who need to limit potassium should not eat these foods. Talk to a dietitian to find out how much potassium is right for you.
The foods in the right-hand column are low in potassium. Eating these foods can help keep your levels normal. But eating more than 1 serving of any of these foods can make it a high-potassium food.
Food Group | Food With High Potassium | Food With Low Potassium |
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Fruits |
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Vegetables |
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Protein Foods |
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Dairy Foods | Dairy items are high in potassium. Keep your portion sizes to 1 serving:
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Other Foods |
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Other |
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*To leach potatoes: Peel and cut them into small pieces. Soak them in a large amount of water for at least 2 hours. (Use at least 5 cups of water for every 1 cup of potatoes.) Drain, rinse, and cook.
American Society of Nutrition
http://www.nutrition.org
Eat Right—Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
http://www.eatright.org
Dietitians of Canada
http://www.dietitians.ca
Kidney Foundation of Canada
http://www.kidney.ca
Patient education: dietary and fluid compliance for patients on hemodialysis. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at:https://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/nursing-reference-center. Updated January 4, 2019. Accessed June 17, 2019.
Potassium and your CKD diet. National Kidney Foundation website. Available at: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/potassium. Accessed June 17, 2019.
Last reviewed June 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Dianne Scheinberg Rishikof MS, RD, LDN