Low Potassium And High Fiber Foods

High-potassium, high-fiber foods are better for most people than foods low in potassium, fiber or both. However, "people with poor kidney function generally must avoid foods high in potassium," according to The Merck Manual of Medical Information. Fortunately, there are several foods low in potassium and high in fiber.

Significance

High-fiber foods lower your blood cholesterol levels, reduce digestive-tract problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and gallstones and reduce your risk of colon cancer, diabetes, diverticulosis, heart disease and rectal cancer, according to "The New Pritikin Program." The potassium in foods helps you keep your blood pressure under control, particularly if you have a diet high in high-sodium foods, according to "Potassium and Health," a Colorado State University report. Potassium also "has major roles in cell metabolism and in nerve and muscle cell function," reports The Merck Manual.

Recommendations

"An Invitation to Health" reports Americans eat only about 12 g of fiber daily, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food labels recommend you should eat 25 g or 100 calories of fiber daily if you eat 2,000 calories daily and 30 g or 120 calories if you eat 2,500 calories daily. "Potassium and Health" reports most Americans do not eat enough potassium, they should eat 4.7 g of potassium daily and people who exercise vigorously "may require more potassium a day."

Warning

A small percentage of people have hyperkalemia, a blood potassium level higher than 5.0 milliequivalents per liter of blood that is caused by the kidneys' inability to excrete potassium, according to The Merck Manual. Often, there are no symptoms, and the diagnosis occurs after a blood test or an electrocardiogram. Hyperkalemia causes severe heart problems when blood potassium exceeds 5.5 milliequivalents per liter. People with hyperkalemia should reduce their potassium intake to 2 g daily and cut their sodium intake because a high-sodium, low-potassium diet can cause hypertension, reports The Merck Manual.

Sources

Fiber is in all plant foods, but not in any animal-based products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Fiber Content of Selected Foods" list reports beans and grains have the most fiber. Other high-fiber foods include cereal, bread, pasta, rice, strawberries, several other berries, artichokes, pears, plums, spinach, lettuce and brussels sprouts. Potassium is in plant- and animal-based foods, including potatoes, tomatoes, oranges, bananas, meats and dairy products, according to "An Invitation to Health."

Definition

People who require a low-potassium, high-fiber diet need to focus on finding low-potassium foods, because you can eat a high-fiber diet by eating large amounts of plant-based and small amounts of animal-based foods. Low-potassium foods have fewer than 100 mg of potassium per serving, according to "Potassium and Health." The U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Potassium Content of Selected Foods" reports dozens of high-fiber foods have less than 0.1 g or 100 mg of potassium, including bread, cereal, pasta, rice, strawberries, pears, plums, spinach, lettuce, mushrooms, pineapple, peppers, plums, cauliflower and radishes.