High-Potassium Diet

April 3, 2010 - 5:30pm

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High-Potassium Diet

What Is Potassium?

]]>Potassium]]> is a mineral found in many different foods, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, dried beans, and peas. Potassium helps maintain normal blood pressure and also helps muscles, including the heart, to contract properly.

Why Follow a High-Potassium Diet?

When combined with a low-sodium diet, a diet high in potassium may help lower ]]>high blood pressure]]>. This can help lower the risk of ]]>stroke]]> and other complications of high blood pressure. If you have kidney problems, you should not follow a high-potassium diet. Talk to your doctor before changing your diet.

Food Choices on a High-Potassium Diet

The below chart shows the healthy foods that are highest in potassium in each food category. If you are eating a high potassium diet to help lower your blood pressure, choose foods from this list. You should also follow a low-sodium or ]]>heart-healthy diet]]>.

Food Category	Food High in Potassium
Grains	Bran muffin Cereal Granola or muesli with fruit and/or nuts Wheat germ
Vegetables	Artichokes Avocados Beets, beet greens Broccoli Brussels sprouts Kale Kohlrabi Mushrooms Parsnips Potatoes Rutabaga Spinach Sweet potato Swiss chard Tomatoes Tomatoes or vegetable juice Winter squash Zucchini
Fruits	Apricots Banana Cantaloupe Dates Dried figs Grapefruit juice Honeydew melon Kiwi Mango Nectarine Orange Papaya Pear Pomegranate, pomegranate juice Pumpkin Prunes, prune juice Raisins
Milk	Buttermilk Low-fat chocolate milk Milk Soy milk Yogurt
Meats and Beans	Beans, baked and lima Chicken Clams Crab Fish Lean ground beef Nuts (almonds, Brazil, cashew, hazelnuts, mixed peanuts) Pistachios Peanut butter Pork Roast beef Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin) Turkey
Fats and Oils	Avocado Nuts and nut butters

Suggestions

Eat a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. These foods tend to be naturally high in potassium, in addition to being loaded with other important vitamins and minerals.
Work with a dietitian to develop an individualized eating plan.

RESOURCES:

American Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright.org/

Nutrition.gov
http://nutrition.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Dietitians of Canada
http://www.dietitians.ca/

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/splash/

References:

American Dietetic Association. Nutrition Care Manual website. Available at: http://www.nutritioncaremanual.org. Accessed January 20, 2010.

National Lung, Heart, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/. Accessed January 20, 2010.

Last reviewed January 2010 by ]]>Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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High-Potassium Diet