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.
Red meat. Some types of protein may be harder for the kidneys, or the body in general, to process. These include red meat.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fresh or frozen red meats without breading, marinades or sauce are better choices for a kidney diet. On average, fresh meat contains 65 mg of phosphorus per ounce and 7 grams of protein per ounce. Seafood is an excellent source of low-fat, high-quality protein.
Traditionally, white bread was recommended for people with kidney disease because it has less potassium and phosphorus.
Low-Potassium Protein Foods
A 1-ounce serving of broiled salmon supplies 106 milligrams of potassium, while 2 ounces of lean beef gives you 150 milligrams. Other protein options that fall into the lower-potassium range include: 1/4 cup of lentils. 1/2 cup of soy or cow's milk.
Dark chocolate has a surprisingly high potassium content. However, some chocolate snacks also have high sodium levels, so always check the nutritional information.
High-potassium vegetables:
Beets. Baked beans, black beans, refried beans. Broccoli (cooked)
Carbohydrate (Starchy food)
Most breads and cereals are good choices as they are low in potassium.
Yogurt is a great source of calcium, riboflavin and potassium. One cup (245 grams) of this creamy treat provides you with 380 mg of potassium ( 52 ).
Medium-potassium foods (50 to 200 mg per serving):
1 small apple or ½ cup of apple juice (150)
Ocean fishing enthusiasts take note: Atlantic mackerel, snapper, cod and yellowfin tuna all rank highly for potassium, with 280 to 350 milligrams of potassium per 3-ounce serving. The pompano also ranks within this range.
Popular fish like salmon, mackerel, halibut, tuna and snapper all have more than 400 milligrams of potassium in a 3-ounce filet.
Butter, margarine and oils are the only foods that are potassium-free.
The most common cause of genuinely high potassium (hyperkalemia) is related to your kidneys, such as: Acute kidney failure. Chronic kidney disease.
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.