Potassium can be found in many foods. Abnormal blood levels of potassium can be very dangerous as they may lead to serious heart arrhythmias . Kidneys regulate the metabolism of potassium, making sure that its levels are appropriate. However, when your kidneys are not working properly, you often need to limit certain foods that can increase the potassium in your system.
Your doctor or dietitian will tell you how many milligrams (mg) of potassium you can have each day, and they will help you design a low potassium diet .
Potassium is found in many foods, especially fruits and vegetables. Here are examples from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA):
Food | Serving size | Potassium content (mg) |
---|---|---|
Sweet potato, baked | 1 potato | 694 |
Tomato paste | ¼ cup | 664 |
Beet greens, cooked | ¼ cup | 655 |
Potato, baked | 1 potato | 610 |
White beans, canned, | ½ cup | 595 |
Yogurt, plain, non-fat, | 8 ounces | 579 |
Tomato puree | ½ cup | 549 |
Clams, canned | 3 ounces | 534 |
Prune juice | ¾ cup | 530 |
Carrot juice | ¾ cup | 517 |
Blackstrap molasses | 1 tablespoon | 498 |
Halibut, cooked | 3 ounces | 490 |
Soybeans, green, cooked | ½ cup | 485 |
Tuna, yellowfin, cooked | 3 ounces | 484 |
Lima beans, cooked | ½ cup | 484 |
Winter squash, cooked | ½ cup | 448 |
Soybeans, mature, cooked | ½ cup | 443 |
Cod, Pacific, cooked | 3 ounces | 439 |
Bananas | 1 medium | 422 |
Spinach, cooked | ½ cup | 419 |
Tomato juice | ¾ cup | 417 |
Tomato sauce | ½ cup | 405 |
Peaches, dried, uncooked | ¼ cup | 398 |
Prunes, stewed | ½ cup | 398 |
Milk, non-fat | 1 cup | 382 |
Pork chop, center loin, cooked | 3 ounces | 382 |
Apricots, dried, uncooked | ¼ cup | 378 |
Rainbow trout, farmed, cooked | 3 ounces | 375 |
RESOURCES:
American Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright.org/
National Kidney Foundation
http://www.kidney.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Dietitians of Canada
http://www.dietitians.ca/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
References:
Bowes & Church's Food Values of Portions Commonly Used . 17th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1998.
The Nutrition Desk Reference . Keats Publishing; 1995.
Perspectives in Nutrition . 2nd ed. Mosby-Year Book, Inc.; 1993.
US Department of Agriculture. Dietary guidelines for Americans 2005: Appendix B-1. Food sources of potassium. US Department of Agriculture website. Available at: http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/appendixb.htm. Updated July 9, 2009. Accessed July 21, 2010.
Last reviewed July 2010 by Brian Randall, MD
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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