Potassium plays an important role in muscle contraction, cardiac function and the transmission of nerve impulses in the human body. Some medical conditions and prescription drugs cause elevated levels of potassium in the blood, which causes muscle weakness, abnormal heart rhythms, muscle fatigue and paralysis. People at an increased risk for high potassium levels should avoid foods that contain large amounts of this mineral.
Bananas
Just one medium banana contains 422mg of potassium, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Data Laboratory. Due to their high potassium content, medical professionals recommend bananas to people with a risk of developing low potassium levels (hypokalemia). Those with a risk of high potassium levels should avoid bananas.
Sweet Potatoes
The George Mateljan Foundation reports that sweet potatoes contain 306.05mg of potassium. This represents 8.7 percent of the recommended daily value for this mineral. If you want to add sweet potatoes to your diet, leach the potassium from them by soaking them in water. Peel them and soak them for two hours if using hot tap water. If you use cold water, soak the potatoes overnight. After soaking the sweet potatoes, drain them and rinse them to remove any excess potassium.
Tomatoes
One medium tomato contains 292mg of potassium, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at the University of Oregon. If your doctor recommends a low-potassium diet, you also need to limit your consumption of tomato juice and foods prepared with tomato sauce or tomato paste.
Milk
On a low-potassium diet, you must limit your intake of milk and products made with milk. The Palo Alto Medical Foundation reports that 1 cup of whole milk contains 370mg of potassium. Products made with milk include cheese and ice cream.
Dry Beans
Dry beans offer many nutrients, but anyone following a low-potassium diet should limit their consumption of these nutritious items. Since the U.S. Dry Bean Council indicates that just one-half cup of dry beans (cooked) contains up to 48 mg of potassium, eat small servings of this food or limit your intake of dry beans to once or twice per week.
Unsalted Nuts
Unsalted nuts contain high amounts of protein and healthy fats, but they also contain high amounts of potassium. Nuts with the highest potassium content include roasted almonds, roasted peanuts and shelled walnuts.
Fish
A good source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein, most people need to include fish in a balanced diet. People with high potassium levels need to limit their intake of fish because it contains a substantial amount of potassium. For example, 4 ounces of halibut contains 653mg of potassium, according to the Mateljan Foundation.
Potatoes
White potatoes also contain high levels of potassium. The Pauling Institute reports that one medium baked potato, with the skin, has 926mg of potassium. Limit your intake of this vegetable, or leach white potatoes to remove some of the potassium and avoid the complications of high potassium levels.
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