Although potassium is found in some proportion in almost every food, some foods are lower in potassium than others. Foods also can be prepared in a specific manner to reduce certain levels in the foods. If your physician recommends a low-potassium diet, knowing what foods are low in potassium and paying careful attention to serving sizes can help you to maintain healthy levels.
Function
Potassium is both a mineral and electrolyte that maintains fluid balance in the body, according to Up to Date. Potassium also is responsible for regulating nerve and muscle function. Too much potassium is known as hyperkalemia, while not enough potassium is known as hypokalemia. If you have excess amounts of potassium in your body, your physician may recommend a diet low in potassium.
Low Potassium Meal Plan
Certain foods, such as vegetables, tend to be higher in potassium. In order to choose potassium-poor foods, your physician may recommend a low-potassium meal plan. These daily serving sizes may include: grains, four to seven servings; meat and meat alternatives, three to seven servings; dairy and calcium foods, one to two servings; vegetables, two to three servings and fruits, one to three servings, according to Up to Date. These food servings should be low in potassium whenever possible.
Low-Potassium Foods
Fruits low in potassium include apples, grapes, canned peaches, pears, pineapple, plums and strawberries, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Low-potassium vegetable choices include alfalfa sprouts, canned beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, green beans, mushrooms and radishes. Low-potassium grain choices include bagels, English muffins, pasta, popcorn or rice. Protein and meat sources include unsalted bacon, cottage cheese, eggs and egg substitutes, oysters, tuna, lamb, peanut butter, pork and tofu, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Pay careful attention to the serving sizes of these foods---exceeding the serving size can make a low potassium food high in potassium.
Foods to Avoid
Dairy products are very high in potassium and should be limited to 1/2 cup per day, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. Other high-potassium foods include bananas, apricots, avocado, cantaloupe, artichokes, butterbeans, sweet potatoes, winter squash, molasses and nuts. Always read potassium levels before consuming a food, as anything higher than 250 milligrams of potassium per serving is considered high, according to Up to Date.
Cooking Techniques
A cooking technique known as "leaching" can help to reduce potassium levels in fruits and vegetables. Because potassium is an electrolyte, it is naturally charged to gravitate toward water. Leaching utilizes these properties to encourage potassium to move from the vegetables toward water. To leach your foods, soak or boil them in water, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Then take the food out of this water and serve in another container. This will help to reduce the overall potassium level in your foods.
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