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Low Potassium Diet
Potassium is found in many foods. Dairy products, nuts, seeds, beans, and many fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of potassium. You need potassium for muscle function, but for some people, too much can be very dangerous. People with certain kidney diseases need a low potassium diet.
Benefit of a Low Potassium Diet:
Helps to lower the amount of potassium in your blood
Helps to maintain normal muscle and heart function
Guidelines of a Low Potassium Diet:
Be sure to cook frozen fruits and vegetables in water; rinse and drain well before serving.
Liquid should be drained from all canned fruits and vegetables and rinsed before serving.
Potatoes may be peeled, sliced thin, and soaked in water for at least 4 hours or overnight before rinsing and cooking. Leafy green vegetables (collards, spinach, and kale) should also be soaked for at least 4 hours and rinsed well before cooking. This helps to significantly lower the amount of potassium in these foods.
Check labels for words that include potassium, such as potassium chloride, to avoid potassium hidden in foods.
Avoid salt substitutes; many of them contain potassium. Salt-free herb blends and spices are acceptable.
Limit foods that are high in potassium.
High Potassium Foods
Fruits
Apricots, canned and fresh
Banana
Cantaloupe
Dried fruits - apricots, dates, figs, prunes
Honeydew melon
Kiwi
Nectarine
Orange
Orange Juice
Pear, fresh
Prune Juice
Vegetables
Asparagus
Avocado
Bamboo Shoots
Beets
Beet Greens
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage, Chinese
Celery
Chard
Kohlrabi
Okra
Pepper, Chili
Potatoes, white and sweet
Pumpkin
Rutabaga
Spinach, cooked
Squash, winter
Tomato
Tomato sauce
Tomato juice
Vegetable juice cocktail
Legumes
Black-eyed Peas
Chick Peas
Lentils
Lima Beans
Navy Beans
Red Kidney Beans
Soybeans
Split Peas
Nuts and Seeds
Almonds
Brazil Nuts
Cashews
Peanuts
Peanut Butter
Pecans
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Walnuts
Breads and Cereals
Bran
Whole Grain
Miscellaneous
Chocolate
Cocoa
Coconut
Milk and Milk Products
Molasses
Substitute Salt
Potassium is found in many foods. Dairy products, nuts, seeds, beans, and many fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of potassium. You need potassium for muscle function, but for some people, too much can be very dangerous. People with certain kidney diseases need a low potassium diet.
Benefit of a Low Potassium Diet:
Helps to lower the amount of potassium in your blood
Helps to maintain normal muscle and heart function
Guidelines of a Low Potassium Diet:
Be sure to cook frozen fruits and vegetables in water; rinse and drain well before serving.
Liquid should be drained from all canned fruits and vegetables and rinsed before serving.
Potatoes may be peeled, sliced thin, and soaked in water for at least 4 hours or overnight before rinsing and cooking. Leafy green vegetables (collards, spinach, and kale) should also be soaked for at least 4 hours and rinsed well before cooking. This helps to significantly lower the amount of potassium in these foods.
Check labels for words that include potassium, such as potassium chloride, to avoid potassium hidden in foods.
Avoid salt substitutes; many of them contain potassium. Salt-free herb blends and spices are acceptable.
Limit foods that are high in potassium.
High Potassium Foods
Fruits
Apricots, canned and fresh
Banana
Cantaloupe
Dried fruits - apricots, dates, figs, prunes
Honeydew melon
Kiwi
Nectarine
Orange
Orange Juice
Pear, fresh
Prune Juice
Vegetables
Asparagus
Avocado
Bamboo Shoots
Beets
Beet Greens
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage, Chinese
Celery
Chard
Kohlrabi
Okra
Pepper, Chili
Potatoes, white and sweet
Pumpkin
Rutabaga
Spinach, cooked
Squash, winter
Tomato
Tomato sauce
Tomato juice
Vegetable juice cocktail
Legumes
Black-eyed Peas
Chick Peas
Lentils
Lima Beans
Navy Beans
Red Kidney Beans
Soybeans
Split Peas
Nuts and Seeds
Almonds
Brazil Nuts
Cashews
Peanuts
Peanut Butter
Pecans
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Walnuts
Breads and Cereals
Bran
Whole Grain
Miscellaneous
Chocolate
Cocoa
Coconut
Milk and Milk Products
Molasses
Substitute Salt
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