by Scheinberg D

What Is Potassium?

Potassium is a mineral found in many foods, such as whole grains, fruits, veggies, milk, dried beans, and peas. It helps keep your blood pressure normal and also helps muscles like the heart contract the right way.

Why Should I Follow This Diet?

This diet may help lower high blood pressure, especially in people who are also on a low-sodium diet. This can help lower the risk of stroke and other problems from high blood pressure. People with kidney problems should not follow this diet. Talk to your doctor before you make any changes.

Food Choices

This chart shows the healthy foods that are highest in potassium. Eating foods from this list will help lower your blood pressure. You should also follow a low-sodium or heart-healthy diet.

Food Group Food High in Potassium
Grains
  • Bran muffin
  • Cereal
  • Granola or muesli with fruit and nuts
  • Wheat germ
Veggies
  • Artichokes
  • Avocados
  • Beets, beet greens
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Mushrooms
  • Parsnips
  • Potatoes
  • Rutabaga
  • Spinach
  • Sweet potato
  • Swiss chard
  • Tomatoes
  • Tomato 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)
  • Peanut butter
  • Pork
  • Roast beef
  • Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin)
  • Turkey
Fats and Oils
  • Avocado
  • Nuts and nut butters

Tips

  • Eat a lot of whole grains, fruits, and veggies. These foods are high in potassium and loaded with other vitamins and minerals.
  • Work with a dietitian to make a meal plan that is right for you.

RESOURCES

American Society for Nutrition  http://www.nutrition.org 

Eat Right—Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics  http://www.eatright.org 

CANADIAN RESOURCES

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

Heart and Stroke Foundation  http://www.heartandstroke.ca 

References

Kidney and diet. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. Available at: http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/diseases-and-conditions/kidney-disease/kidney-disease-and-diet. Published November 7, 2017. Accessed June 17, 2019.

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.

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