Foods To Eat When Trying To Keep Your Potassium Low

Potassium is a mineral regulated by your kidneys that allows your body to keep fluid levels balanced, according to the website UpToDate. Because your body is mostly water, potassium is vital to a number of functions. However, for those who experience kidney problems, too much potassium in the diet taxes the kidneys. In order to reduce this effect, a physician may recommend a low-potassium diet. Because most foods contain some degree of potassium, it's important to be aware of potassium-containing foods.

Grains

Because whole-grain foods tend to be high in potassium, switch to foods made with white flour, recommends Greenwich Hospital. These include breads, pastas and crackers. White rice also is a low-potassium choice. Remember to carefully follow serving size; when eaten in excess, low-potassium foods can add up to high potassium levels.

Fruits

Serving sizes also are important to consider when consuming fruits. Choose small, low-potassium options and eat only one to three servings per day, suggests UpToDate. Low-potassium options include apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches, pears, pineapple, raspberries, tangerines and watermelons.

Vegetables

Low-potassium vegetable options include alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, lettuce, mushrooms, onions and radishes, according to the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers. Because vegetables tend to be high in potassium, you may use a process known as leaching, which means soaking vegetables in water, in order to draw potassium out of the vegetables, according to UpToDate. Be sure to place them in fresh water to cook.

Proteins

Avoid protein sources that contain or were cured with salt substitutes; these foods are high in potassium, according to Greenwich Hospital. Low-potassium protein sources include chicken, turkey, eggs, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, flax seeds and unsalted peanut butter, according to UpToDate.

Dairy

Dairy products tend to be very high in potassium, reports the University of Rochester Medical Center. Because dairy products are a good source of calcium, you may not wish to eliminate them altogether. However, you should limit milk intake to 1/2 cup of buttermilk, milk, yogurt or ice cream per day.