You can reach it by cooking a 4-ounce piece of chicken, turkey, fish or beef and serving it with a baked sweet potato and half a cup of steamed or roasted broccoli. Don't panic if you don't reach the full 4,700 mg every single day. The minimum amount of potassium your body needs to survive is only 100 mg per day.
Adults should consume about 3,500mg of potassium per day, according to the UK's National Health Service. The average banana, weighing 125g, contains 450mg of potassium, meaning a healthy person can consume at least seven-and-half bananas before reaching the recommended level.
Vomiting, diarrhea or both also can result in excessive potassium loss from the digestive tract. Occasionally, low potassium is caused by not getting enough potassium in your diet. In most cases, low potassium is found by a blood test that is done because of an illness, or because you are taking diuretics.
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.
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.
The most common cause of genuinely high potassium (hyperkalemia) is related to your kidneys, such as: Acute kidney failure. Chronic kidney disease.
Chocolate and nuts contain high amounts of phosphorus and potassium.
Potassium gluconate has a high absorption rate of approximately 94 percent, making it useful for “quick” needs like leg cramps or blood pressure management. Potassium chloride is commonly prescribed by a doctor for hypokalemia, or low potassium levels.
For most people, the level of potassium in your blood should be between 3.5 and 5.0, depending on the laboratory that is used. If high potassium happens suddenly and you have very high levels, you may feel heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, or vomiting.
Some medications lower potassium slowly, including: Water pills (diuretics), which rid the body of extra fluids and remove potassium through urine. Sodium bicarbonate, which temporarily shifts potassium into body cells. Albuterol, which raises blood insulin levels and shifts potassium into body cells.
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).
Dark chocolate has a surprisingly high potassium content. However, some chocolate snacks also have high sodium levels, so always check the nutritional information.
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.
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 ).
Although bananas are a good source of potassium, many other nutritious foods, including sweet potatoes, legumes, and beets, offer more potassium per serving. Swiss chard, yams, and white beans even have twice as much potassium per cup as a medium banana.
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.
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.
Potassium in Watermelon
While bananas might be the first fruit to come to mind, watermelon actually reigns supreme when it comes to potassium. In just 2 wedges, or about 1/8th of a melon, you'll get 640 mg of potassium, or about 14% DV.