Potassium Foods

A potassium of 3.5 to 5.1 is acceptable.

A high potassium can affect the beating of your heart.
Try to AVOID the HIGH-potassium foods listed below.

Fruits

  • apricots
  • avocado
  • banana
  • cantaloupe
  • casaba
  • dates
  • dried fruits
  • figs
  • guava
  • honeydew
  • kiwi
  • mango
  • nectarine
  • orange
  • passion fruit
  • prunes
  • raisins

Vegetables

  • artichokes
  • baked beans
  • broccoli, raw
  • brussels sprouts
  • dried, canned or frozen beans & peas (navy, kidney, split, etc.)
  • lentils
  • lima beans
  • mushrooms
  • parsnips
  • potato: baked, chips, French fries, home fries, potato pancakes
  • sweet potato, baked
  • spinach
  • tomato
  • tomato sauce
  • winter squash, baked
  • yams, baked

Juices

  • apricot nectar
  • orange juice
  • prune juice
  • tomato juice
  • V8
  • carrot juice

Other

  • chocolate
  • coconut
  • milk & milk products
  • nuts
  • salt substitute
  • whole grain breads and cereals
  • bran breads and cereals

* Limit all other fruits and juices to no more than 3 servings per day.
One serving is one small piece of fresh fruit or one half cup canned fruit or fruit juice.

* Limit all other vegetables to no more than 2 servings per day. One serving is one half cup.

* Hard vegetables (potato, carrot, etc.) should be peeled and cut into small pieces, then soaked

for one hour. Drain the soaking water and boil the vegetable in new water.

* Limit regular coffee to 2 cups per day. Switch to decaffeinated coffee or tea for a lower potassium choice.

* If you are hungry between meals, snack on foods in the bread group: cereals & bread (not whole grain or bran), noodles, pasta, rice, cookies, etc.

* Choose from the following list of juices lowest in potassium:

  • cranberry & all the cranberry combinations
  • lemonade & limeade
  • pear & peach nectars
  • pink grapefruit cocktail

* Choose from the following list of fruits lowest in potassium:

  • applesauce
  • cranberry sauce
  • fruit cocktail
  • plums
  • canned peaches
  • canned pineapple
  • canned pears
  • blueberries
  • grapes

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The National Kidney Foundation also has information on low and high potassium foods.  Click here to access this information.