Potassium-rich foods include a variety of fruits and vegetables: spinach, tomatoes, oranges, lima beans and broccoli, to name a few. Topping the list are sweet potatoes. One sweet potato contains nearly 700 mg of potassium, approximately 15 percent of the recommended daily amount.
Sweet potatoes also contain vitamins and minerals, such as potassium, that may help balance the levels of sodium in the body and reduce its effect on the kidneys. However, as sweet potato is a high-potassium food, anyone who has CKD or is on dialysis may wish to limit their intake of this vegetable.
One cup of boiled sweet potato contains 754 mg of potassium, which is 16% DV. This is more than 1.5 times the amount of potassium in a banana. "Sweet potatoes are packed with fiber which is known to reduce constipation and improve heart health," Pitts says.
Results: Mean potassium content was highest in the purple Viking potato (448.1 6 60.5 mg [11.5 6 1.6 mEq]/100 g [values are mean 6 SD unless otherwise noted]), and lowest in the Idaho potato (295 6 15.7 mg [7.6 6 0.4 mEq]/100 g). All raw potatoes had a mean potassium content of about 300 mg (7.7 mEq)/100 g or greater.
For the most effective potassium removal, potatoes must be cut into small pieces, sliced thin or grated. If boiled at least 10 minutes in a large pot of water, potassium is reduced by at least half the original amount.
Low-potassium vegetables:
Broccoli (raw or cooked from frozen) Cabbage. Carrots (cooked) Cauliflower.
How much potassium is in an egg? One large egg contains about 63 mg of potassium. 1 Eggs are considered a low-potassium food, but check with your doctor or dietitian to find out how often you should eat them.
Leaching method: Peel and dice potatoes. Place in a large pot of warm tap water and soak for 2 to 4 hours. Drain and set aside.
Broccoli is a medium potassium food, low in sodium and phosphorus, and suitable for all the following kidney conditions and treatments: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Transplant.
Some of the best sources of potassium are dark leafy greens such as spinach, which when cooked has an astounding 1,180 mg per cup, per USDA data. Swiss chard is a close second, with almost 1,000 mg per cooked cup, and even bok choy has around 445 mg per cup when cooked.
Tomatoes are high in potassium, but pasta is served with many sauces that are not tomato-based. If you must select a dish with tomato sauce, ask that it be served on the side. Be cautious – Soul food is often high in potassium. Avoid black-eyed peas, dried beans, cooked greens, spinach, yams, and sweet potato pie.
Whole grains, including oats, are considered good potassium sources. One serving of instant or steel-cut oatmeal provides about 130 milligrams of potassium. If you're aiming to increase your potassium intake, you can bring this amount up significantly by adding high-potassium fruit to your oatmeal.
Medium-potassium foods (50 to 200 mg per serving):
1 small apple or ½ cup of apple juice (150) ½ cup of peaches canned in juice (120) ½ cup of canned pineapple (100) ½ cup of fresh, sliced strawberries (125)
While not considered a high potassium food, the potassium in cheese should absolutely be made aware. On average, one ounce of cheese will provide about 35 milligrams of potassium. The cheese with the most potassium is processed cheese (like the cheese-in-a-can products).
Most meats add some potassium to your meals. Chicken breast has the most per 3-ounce serving with 332 milligrams, but beef and turkey breast contain 315 and 212 milligrams, respectively.
MYTH #2. MOST COOKING METHODS DESTROY THE NUTRIENTS IN POTATOES. While boiling potatoes does cause a small loss of water-soluble nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin B6, the white potato retains most, if not all, of its potassium and dietary fiber regardless of cooking method, such as baking, boiling, or frying.
In short, most meats, fish, and seafood are considered high in potassium. Some of the lowest potassium meats are clams, oysters, and tuna. Chicken and turkey aren't considered low potassium meats, but they are lower than other types of meats.
You want to avoid high-potassium surf such as halibut, tuna, cod, and snapper. 3-oz servings can contain as much as 480 mg of potassium. On the low end, the same amount of canned tuna has only 200 mg. Salmon, haddock, swordfish, and perch run about 300 mg per 3-oz serving.
Traditionally, white bread was recommended for people with kidney disease because it has less potassium and phosphorus.
Because mushrooms are high in potassium and low in sodium, eating mushrooms can help decrease the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The high fiber content in mushrooms – about 3 grams in one cup – can help people with type 1 diabetes lower their blood sugar levels.
A ½ cup serving of blueberries has less than 150 milligrams potassium making them a low potassium fruit choice. Blueberries are also low in sodium and phosphorus making them suitable for a kidney friendly diet. They are safe to eat for all of the following kidney conditions and treatments: CKD/Transplant.