Fruits and vegetables as well as dairy products, nuts, beans, seeds and meat contain potassium. This essential mineral to your diet assists with many bodily functions, including protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, muscle building and a normal heartbeat, according to Medline Plus, a U.S. National Institutes of Health website. A potassium deficiency, not commonly caused by inadequate diet in the United States, can have very serious consequences, including high blood pressure. A potassium deficiency is more likely to occur in people taking diuretics, laxatives and steroids, warns Medline Plus.
Low Potassium Produce
People who need to reduce the levels of potassium in their body for health reasons, such as dialysis patients, consume fruits and vegetables low in potassium, according to information provided by the Digestive Center in the University of Virginia Health System. A fruit or vegetable low in potassium, as defined by the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, contains less than 120 mg. It lists the following fruits as low potassium in ½ cup servings: peeled apples, 62 mg; blueberries, 65 mg; pineapple 88 mg; and grapes, 93 to 105 mg. A list of low potassium vegetables and their potassium content per raw ½ cup, provided by the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, includes alfalfa sprouts, 13 mg; cabbage, 72 to 86 mg; carrots, 84 mg; and cucumbers 84 mg.
High Potassium Produce
High potassium fruits and vegetables contain more than 200 mg per serving, as defined by Drugs.com. It provides a list of fruits high in potassium and their potassium content, that includes one papaya, 781 mg; 1 cup of cubed cantaloupe, 494 mg; one small banana, 467 mg; and one medium mango, 323 mg. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 offers a list of vegetables and their respective potassium content. Vegetables richest in potassium include: one baked sweet potato, 694 mg; ½ cup cooked beet greens, 655 mg; one baked potato without skin, 610 mg; and ½ cup steamed green soybeans, 485 mg.
Processed Fruits and Veggies
Lightly processed fruits and vegetables contain potassium. Dried fruits like raisins, dates and apricots are classified as high potassium foods. One-third cup of raisins provides 363 mg of potassium. Bottled fruit juice also contains potassium and also offers a source of potassium rich food. Six fluid ounces of prune juice offers 528 mg of potassium and the same amount of orange juice contains 327 mg. Common serving sizes of tomato sauce are also considered a high potassium food, coming in at 417mg per half-cup. Apple sauce, classified as a low potassium food, contains 78 mg per half-cup.
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