Fresh tomatoes offer several health benefits. To get more potassium, though, it is best to use concentrated tomato products, such as tomato puree or tomato juice. Half a cup of tomato puree contains 549 mg of potassium, and a cup of tomato juice contains 527 mg.
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.
Other tomato products may also contain high levels of potassium. A half-cup of tomato puree has 560 milligrams, while a medium fresh tomato contains about 290 milligrams.
Tomato juice
One cup of tomato juice has 581 mg of potassium, which is 12% DV. This is over 100 mg more potassium than a banana. "The lycopene [an antioxidant] found in tomato juice can lower LDL (or "bad") cholesterol levels in the blood," Nicole says.
Blanching your vegetables in boiling water for 1 minute before using in cooking will also help reduce the potassium content. If making a tomato-based sauce, use less tomato than you usually would. Use tinned tomatoes rather than tomato paste, puree or passata.
Taking water pills or potassium binders, as directed by your healthcare provider. Some people may also need medicine to help remove extra potassium from the body and keep it from coming back. This may include: Water pills (diuretics) help rid your body of extra potassium.
The most common cause of genuinely high potassium (hyperkalemia) is related to your kidneys, such as: Acute kidney failure. Chronic kidney disease.
Potassium Content of Tomatoes
One medium-sized tomato supplies 292 milligrams of potassium and a small tomato provides 216 milligrams. A plum tomato or an Italian tomato each contains 147 milligrams of potassium. One cherry tomato supplies 40 milligrams of the essential mineral.
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.
Lower potassium choices: Tea, herbal tea, squash or cordial, water, fizzy drinks. Spirits are lower in potassium than other alcoholic drinks. High potassium foods to limit: Limit milk to ½ pint per day (300ml).
Potassium and exercise
When you exercise, your muscles lose potassium. This creates a substantial rise in blood potassium levels. For most people, the kidneys filter out the extra potassium fairly quickly, and potassium levels return to normal within a few minutes of rest.
Typical patients with hypokalemia have required a mean of 5 days for return of their serum potassium levels to normal (12,13).
Typically, the potassium level becomes low because too much is lost from the digestive tract due to vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive laxative use. Sometimes too much potassium is excreted in urine, usually because of drugs that cause the kidneys to excrete excess sodium, water, and potassium (diuretics).
Dairy and dairy products are also known to be a source of potassium. 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.
Onions: Another great way to add flavor to any food, onions have health benefits, too. They are low in potassium and rich in flavonoids–a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce heart disease and protect against cancer.
***People with chronic kidney disease have to be careful not to eat more than half a cup (about 3 slices) of tomatoes in a day. Tomatoes are high in potassium, which can cause problems for you if you have chronic kidney disease.
Low-potassium veggie choices
Veggies that contain less than 200 mg per serving include: asparagus (6 spears) broccoli (half-cup) carrots (half-cup cooked)
There are limited or no options for at-home kits to test potassium levels. If you are prescribed a 24-hour urine test, you will need to collect your urine wherever you are during the day, including at home. However, this testing is still prescribed by your doctor rather than sold as a separate at-home test kit.
Excessive water consumption may lead to depletion of potassium, which is an essential nutrient. This may cause symptoms like leg pain, irritation, chest pain, et al. 6.
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. Deli meats are not only high in potassium but can also be high in sodium and contain phosphorus additives.