II. Indications
- Hypokalemia
- High Dietary Potassium intake is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes (if no Hyperkalemia risk)
- Decreased Blood Pressure in Hypertension (See DASH Diet)
- Decreased risk of Cerebrovascular Accident
III. Precautions
- Potassium Content in Food is not an exact replacement
- Renal disease patients or those with other Hyperkalemia risk factors should avoid high Potassium foods
- Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 1-3b (eGFR >30 mg/kg) and Urine Albumin <30 mg/g
- May follow a high Potassium diet (unless history of Hyperkalemia)
- Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 4-5 (eGFR <30 mg/kg) or Urine Albumin >30 mg/g
- Limit Dietary Potassium <76 meq/day (<3000 mg/day)
- Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 1-3b (eGFR >30 mg/kg) and Urine Albumin <30 mg/g
IV. Background: Potassium
V. Preparations: Salt Substitute contains extremely high Potassium
VI. Precautions
- Salt substitutes vary widely on Potassium concentration
- Morton's Salt Substitute, Nu-Salt or NoSalt contain 16-20 meq K+ per 1/4 tsp (as calculated above)
- Mrs. Dash only contains 0.4 meq Potassium per 1/4 tsp
- Highly concentrated, Potassium chloride salt substitute can easily be over-dosed (Exercise caution)
- At 67 to 82 meq per teaspoon, NoSalt, Nu-Salt or Morton's Salt Substitute can easily exceed safe limits
VII. Preparations: Potassium content (from USDA, with meq based on 39 mg/meq for elemental Potassium)
- See DASH Diet
- Acorn Squash (cooked)
- Potassium: 448 mg or 11.5 meq per 1/2 cub acorn squash cubes
- Almonds
- Potassium 200 mg or 5 meq per 1 ounce of almonds
-
Apricot (dried)
- Potassium: 41 mg or 1.1 meq per dried apricot half
- Avocado
- Potassium: 72 mg or 1.8 meq per tablespoon
- Baked potato with skin
- Potassium: 926 mg or 24 meq per 1 medium potato
- Banana
- Cooked Black Beans
- Potassium 38 mg or 1.0 meq per fluid ounce
- Cantaloupe
- Potassium: 37 mg or 0.9 meq per melon ball
-
Chocolate (dark or milk Chocolate)
- Potassium: 158 mg/28 g or 4 meq/oz
- Dried peaches
- Potassium: 129 mg or 3.3 meq per peach half
- Medjool Date
- Potassium: 167 mg or 4.3 meq per date
- Milk (1% Low Fat)
- Potassium 351 or 9 meq per 1 cup 1% milk
- Molasses
- Potassium: 308 mg or 7.9 meq per tbs
- Orange Juice
- Orange
- Potassium: 237 mg or 6 meq per one medium orange
- Prune Juice
- Potassium 528 mg or 13.5 meq per 6 fluid ounces prune juice
- Prunes
- Potassium 637 mg or 16 meq for one half cup of prunes
- Raisins
- Potassium 598 mg or 15.3 meq per 1/2 cup raisins
- Raw Fig
- Potassium: 116 mg or 3.0 meq per medium fig
- Spinach (cooked)
- Potassium 420 mg or 10.7 meq per 1/2 cup cooked spinach
- Tomato Juice
- Potassium 417 mg or 10.7 meq per 6 fluid onces tomato juice
- Tomato
- Potassium 292 mg or 7.5 meq per 1 medium tomato
VIII. Preparations: Foods with highest Potassium content (>25 meq/3.5 ounces or 1000 mg/serving)
- Figs
- Molasses
- Seaweed
IX. Preparations: Foods with very high Potassium (>12.5 meq/3.5 ounces or >500 mg/serving)
- Dates, prunes, dried apricot, dried peaches
- Tree Nuts including avocados, pistachios
- Bran ceral, wheat germ
- Lima Beans
- Baked potatoes
- Avocado
X. Preparations: Foods with High Potassium Content (>6 meq/3.5 ounces or >250 mg/serving)
- Vegetables
- Spinach, Tomatoes, Potatotes, Carrots, Beets
- Broccoli, Cauliflower, Winter squash
- Fruits
- Banana (1 meq per inch of banana)
- Kiwi fruit, oranges, mangos
- Cantaloupe
- Other
- Dark Chocolate
- Oats
XI. Preparations: Foods with LOW Potassium (for those with Hyperkalemia risk, ESRD)
- Apples
- Berries
- Carrots
- Green Beans
- Chicken
- Eggs
- White bread
- White rice
XII. Resources
- USDA National Nutrient Database