Potassium is a mineral that supports the effectiveness of the body in metabolizing energy and development of healthy muscles and cells, as well as contributing to electrical functioning of the heart. Like many other vitamins and minerals, potassium can be consumed in food sources. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), sweet potatoes contain the highest amount of potassium, with an average of 694 milligrams.
Significance
Potassium deficiency, also known as hypokalemia, can cause a salt deficiency or high blood pressure. The USDA indicates that the most common cause of hypokalemia is the use of diuretics. Eating foods that contain potassium is one of the most efficient ways to address hypokalemia.
Types
Sweet potatoes can be prepared in many ways. The USDA indicates that baking the sweet potatoes yields the highest amount of potassium because it helps them to maintain their key nutrients. If you have a specific preference on how sweet potatoes are prepared, it is acceptable for you to eat them in other forms; however potassium levels will vary.
Nutritional Information
According to LIVESTRONG.com's MyPlate, one medium sweet potato contains approximately 103 calories. Sweet potatoes do not contain any fat and provide 2 grams of protein. In addition, sweet potatoes provide 384 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. Because they contain a small amount of calories, you can eat them with more than one meal per day or multiple times per week.
Warning
Although sweet potatoes are a generally healthy food, eating them too often can cause excess amounts of potassium to accumulate in the blood. This is a condition known as hyperkalemia, states the USDA. An infection, reduced kidney functioning and an abnormal breakdown of proteins can cause hyperkalemia.
Solution
If you don't like to eat sweet potatoes, you can also obtain potassium from food sources such as tomato paste and a regular baked potato, which contain 664 and 655 milligrams of potassium, respectively.
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