POTASSIUM DIET

Discover essential tips, portion guides, and food examples to help balance your potassium levels for optimal kidney health and blood pressure control.

WHAT IS POTASSIUM?

Potassium is a mineral found in many of the foods you eat. It plays a role in keeping your heartbeat regular and your muscles working right. It is the job of healthy kidneys to keep the right amount of potassium in your body.

WHY IS POTASSIUM IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WITH CKD?

In some people with CKD, the kidneys may not remove extra potassium from the blood. Some medicines also can raise your potassium level. Your food choices can help you lower your potassium level.

HOW DO I KNOW MY POTASSIUM IS HIGH?

People often do not feel any different when their potassium is high. Your health care provider will check the level of potassium in your blood and the medicines you take. The level of potassium in your blood should be between 3.5 to 5.0.*

HOW DO I LOWER POTASSIUM IN MY DIET?

Use spices and herbs in cooking and at the table. Salt substitutes often contain potassium and should not be used.

Drain canned fruits and vegetables before eating.

Potassium Chloride can be used in place of salt in some packaged foods, like canned soups and tomato products. Limit foods with potassium chloride on the ingredient list.

If you have diabetes, choose apple, grape, or cranberry juice when your blood sugar goes down.

Choose fruits and vegetables that are lower in potassium. Having very small portions of foods that are higher in potassium, like one slice of tomato on a sandwich, a few slices of banana on cereal, or half of an orange is okay.

HIGHER POTASSIUM FOODS

FRUITS

**portion size is ½ cup unless otherwise stated.

  • Fresh Apricots (2 medium)
  • Dried Apricots (5 halves)
  • Avocado (1/4 whole)
  • Banana (1/2 whole)
  • Cantaloupe
  • Dates (5 whole)
  • Dried Fruits
  • Dried Figs
  • Grapefruit Juice
  • Honeydew
  • Kiwi (1 medium)
  • Mango (1 medium)
  • Nectarine (1 medium)
  • Orange (1 medium)
  • Orange Juice
  • Papaya (1/2 whole),
  • Pomegranate (1 whole)
  • Pomegrante Juice,
  • Prunes
  • Prune Juice
  • Raisins

VEGETABLES

**portion size is ½ cup unless otherwise stated.

  • Acorn Squash
  • Artichoke
  • Bamboo Shoots
  • Baked Beans
  • Beets (fresh then boiled)
  • Black Beans
  • Cooked Broccoli
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Raw Carrots
  • Dried Beans and Peas
  • Greens (except kale),
  • Hubbard Squash
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lentils
  • Legumes
  • Canned Mushrooms
  • Parsnips
  • Potatoes (white and sweet)
  • Pumpkin
  • Rutabagas
  • Cooked Spinach
  • Tomatoes/Tomato Products
  • Vegetable Juices

OTHER FOODS

**portion size is ½ cup unless otherwise stated.

  • Bran/Bran Products
  • Chocolate (1.5-2 ounces)
  • Granola
  • Milk (all types, 1 cup)
  • Molasses (1 tbsp)
  • Nutritional Supplements (use only under direction of your doctor or dietician)
  • Nuts and seeds (1 ounce)
  • Peanut butter (2 tbsp)
  • Salt substitutes/Lite Salt
  • Salt Free Broth
  • Yogurt
  • Snuff/Chewing Tobacco

LOWER POTASSIUM FOODS

FRUITS

**portion size is ½ cup unless otherwise stated.

  • Apple (1 medium)

  • Apple Juice

  • Applesauce

  • Apricots (canned in juice)

  • Blackberries

  • Blueberries

  • Cherries

  • Cranberries

  • Fruit Cocktail

  • Grapes

  • Grape Juice

  • Grapefruit (1/2 whole)

  • Mandarin Oranges

  • Fresh Peaches (1 small)

  • Canned Peaches (1/2 cup)

  • Fresh Pears (1 small)

  • Canned Peaches (1/2 cup)

  • Pineapple

  • Pineapple Juice

  • Plums (1 whole)

  • Raspberries

  • Strawberries

  • Tangerine (1 whole),

  • Watermelon (limit to one cup)

VEGETABLES

**portion size is ½ cup unless otherwise stated.

  • Alfalfa Sprouts

  • Asparagus (6 spears)

  • Green or Wax Beans

  • Green and

  • Red Cabbage

  • Cooked Carrots

  • Cauliflower

  • Celery (1 stalk)

  • Fresh Corn (1/2 ear)

  • Frozen Corn (1/2 cup)

  • Cucumber

  • Eggplant,

  • Kale

  • Lettuce

  • Mixed Vegetables

  • Fresh Mushrooms

  • Okra

  • Onions

  • Parsley

  • Green Peas

  • Peppers

  • Radish

  • Rhubarb

  • Canned Water Chestnuts

  • Watercress

  • Yellow Squash

  • Zuchinni Squash

OTHER FOODS

**portion size is ½ cup unless otherwise stated.

  • Rice

  • Noodles

  • Pasta

  • Bread and Bread Products (not whole grains)

  • Cake (angel or yellow)

  • Coffee (limit to 8 ounces)

  • Pies without Chocolate or High Potassium Fruit

  • Cookies without Nuts or Chocolate

  • Tea (limit to 16 ounces)

CONTACT INFORMATION 

TUPELO, MS LOCATION

1542 MEDICAL PARK CIRCLE, TUPELO, MS 38801

PHONE: 662-844-4711   |   FAX: 662-844-9619

TOLL FREE: 1-866-344-4711

OXFORD, MS LOCATION

1790 BARRON STREET, OXFORD, MS 38655

PHONE: 662-236-2900   |   FAX: 662-236-2922

 

CLARKSDALE, MS LOCATION

785 OHIO AVE, STE 2H, CLARKSDALE, MS 38614

PHONE: 662-627-3003