High potassium diet (1116)
Key points below
What is potassium?
Potassium is a nutrient found in food. The body uses it to:
- Help keep the heartbeat normal.
- Build and contract muscles.
- Regulate blood pressure.
- Help control the water balance in body tissues and cells.
The best sources of potassium come from fruits, vegetables, milk and foods made with milk. Most people get enough potassium in their diet.
Why is a high potassium diet needed?
Some drugs lower blood potassium levels. This includes drugs like lasix, amphotericin, ambisome, bumex and metolazone. This may increase the need for potassium. A high potassium diet may be ordered. A supplement may also be prescribed.
What foods are high in potassium?
The foods in this table have high levels of potassium per serving. Include 1 to 2 items at meal and snack time.
Dairy
High in potassium
- Ice cream
- Pudding
- Cheese
Highest in potassium
- Milk
- Milkshakes
- Yogurt
Fruits
High in potassium
- Honeydew
- Kiwi Mangos
- Nectarines
- Papayas Peach
- Plums
- Raisins
- Rhubarb
Highest in potassium
- Apricots
- Apricot nectar
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Cantaloupe
- Dates
- Dried fruits
- Oranges
- Orange juice
- Prunes
- Prune juice
Vegetables
High in potassium
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Beets Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Carrots Celery
- Dark green lettuce
- Legumes
- Mushrooms
- Okra
- Parsnips
- Peas
- Potatoes (boiled, mashed, chips)
Highest in potassium
- Beans (Kidney, lima, pinto, refried, but not green or wax beans)
- Greens
- Lentils
- Peas
- Potatoes (baked, french fries, roasted)
- Pumpkin
- Spinach
- Sweet potatoes T
- Tomatoes
- Tomato juice
- Vegetable juice
- Carrot juice
- Winter or Acorn squash
Combination foods
High in potassium
- Casseroles made with high potassium foods.
- Macaroni & cheese
- Sandwiches with tomato, cheese or peanut butter
Highest in potassium
- Pizza
- Spaghetti sauce
- Cream soups
- Tomato products
Other foods
High in potassium
- Coconut Electrolyte drinks (Gatorade)
- Granola
- Molasses
- Trail mix
- Whole grain foods
Highest in potassium
- Chocolate (candy, baked goods, milk, etc).
- Bran and bran products
- Nuts and nut butters (peanut, almond, cashew)
- Sunflower seeds and sunflower seed butter
- Soy and coconut milk
- Coconut water
Remember: It is important for your child to eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet.