Foods To Avoid On A High Potassium Diet

In the body, potassium is an electrolyte found inside individual cells. Along with sodium, this important mineral helps maintain water and acid/base balance, aids muscle contraction, regulates heart beat and blood pressure, and sends nerve impulses throughout the body. Certain diseases and conditions warrant limiting dietary potassium. It is widely distributed in foods (both plant and animal foods), especially unprocessed, whole foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, beans and meats.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Avoid high-potassium fruits and vegetables. Although all fresh fruits and vegetables (unprocessed) contain some potassium, certain choices are particularly potassium rich. These include potatoes, Swiss chard and collard greens, crimini mushrooms, spinach, celery, carrots, broccoli, pumpkin and winter squash, bananas, green beans, beets, papaya, prunes and prune juice, figs, tomatoes and tomato juice, raisins, oranges and orange juice, and cantaloupe. All of these fruits and vegetables provide more than 300 milligrams (mg) of potassium per serving. In fact, one cup of boiled Swiss chard provides 960 mg potassium and one baked potato provides 1,081 mg of potassium---nearly 25 percent of the Recommended Daily Value.

Dairy Products

Dairy products, especially yogurt and milk, contain about as much potassium per serving as winter squash and boiled potatoes (approximately 400 mg). Interestingly, whole milk yogurt (and, to a lesser degree, whole milk) offers less potassium than its low-fat and skim counterparts (531 mg versus 352 mg per 8-oz container, respectively). Nevertheless, on a potassium-restricted diet, avoid consuming all yogurt and limit milk to one 8-oz cup daily, and choose whole-fat varieties.

Meats and Meat Substitutes

Some protein foods are particularly high in potassium and should be eaten in moderation. When it comes to fish, halibut, scallops and cod contain the most potassium at 490 mg, 444 mg and 439 mg per 3-oz portion, respectively. Beans, especially split peas, pinto, kidney, soy and re-fried beans, provide more than 300 mg of potassium per 1/2-cup serving, while a 3-oz serving of fresh pork loin offers almost 400 mg of potassium per 3-oz serving. Restrict these foods or balance them with lower potassium foods throughout the day. Choose other varieties of fish, poultry and lean beef (3-oz portions) while on a potassium-restricted diet.