Low Potassium Diet: What Is It, How It Works, And Foods To Eat & Avoid

Potassium is an important dietary mineral that helps regulate many bodily functions, but if its levels go up, following a low-potassium diet may be a good idea for some individuals. This is because an excess of potassium in the body may lead to muscle weakness and other life-threatening conditions (1). Excess potassium is filtered by the kidneys and removed through urine. However, if you have kidney problems, this could be a problem. In such cases, switching to a low-potassium diet may help you keep your potassium levels in check. This article covers all you need to know about a low-potassium diet, foods to include and avoid, and recipes you can try. Scroll down to learn more.

At A Glance: Low-Potassium Diet

• Principle: An approach to restrict daily dietary potassium intake to within 2000-3000 mg per day.
• Purpose: To reduce the potassium levels in the body and relieve symptoms of hyperkalemia.
• Who It Is For: Individuals with chronic kidney disease, heart issues, or abnormally high potassium levels.
• Who Should Avoid: Individuals with potassium deficiency, pregnant and nursing women, and those with (a history of) eating disorders.
• Cons: Potassium deficiency may lead to muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, and fluctuations in blood pressure.

What Is A Low-Potassium Diet?

A low-potassium diet involves consuming foods that contain low levels of potassium to avoid overdose. According to the US National Academy of Sciences, the recommended daily intake of potassium for healthy adults is 3,400 mg per day for men and 2600 mg per day for women. For those who have high blood potassium levels (hyperkalemiaⁱ  A medical condition caused by an increase of potassium levels in the bloodstream, leading to cardiac and muscle problems. ) and chronic kidney disease, it is limited to 2,000 mg per day (2). In extreme cases of kidney disease, the recommended potassium intake may need to be reduced to 1,500 mg per day or even lower (3).

Limiting potassium intake is crucial because high potassium levels in the blood may lead to (4), (5):

• Cold skin
• Mental confusion
• Drowsiness
• Muscle tiredness, cramps, weakness
• Lightheadedness or nausea
• Palpitations
• Paralysis

Pro Tip

Dehydration may drop blood pressure levels and cause acid buildup in the body, worsening hyperkalemia (5). Therefore, drink plenty of water to maintain potassium levels in the body.

Since going on a low-potassium diet means you have to exclude or limit the intake of many healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables, it’s important to consult a doctor and follow the recommended diet plan to avoid the risk of deficiencies.

Keeping the dietary potassium at healthy levels improves bodily functions and protects you from various health issues. Let’s understand how it helps and things to keep in mind while following the low-potassium diet.

Low-Potassium Diet: How It Works And Tips To Follow

A low-potassium diet adheres to the following principles:

• Limiting High-Potassium Foods

It focuses on reducing the intake of dietary fiber by allowing moderate to no consumption of high-potassium foods. These foods include spinach, bananas, potatoes, mangoes, red meat, kiwis, beets, etc. (5)

• Controlling Portion Sizes

Consuming too many low-potassium foods at once may still increase your potassium intake. Therefore, it is crucial to plan your meals carefully and watch your portions when on a low-potassium diet. Similarly, reduce the portion size of high-potassium foods to maintain healthy potassium levels in your meals.

• Avoiding High-Potassium Additives

Processed and packaged foods are loaded with additives such as potassium chloride (6). Read the labels carefully and limit the quantity of processed foods in your diet when on a low-potassium diet.

• Selecting Low-Potassium Alternatives

Consuming foods with a lower potassium content and choosing low-potassium alternatives to certain foods may help you eat more without overdosing on this mineral. For example, you may choose white rice instead of brown rice or grapefruit instead of grapes (7).

• Trying Effective Cooking Methods

Leaching is the most common technique that may draw out potassium from root vegetables such as potatoes. It involves slicing and soaking the vegetables in water overnight, followed by draining and boiling the vegetables in new water (8).

However, compared to leaching, boiling the foods may significantly reduce potassium content. A study published by the National Library Of Medicine suggests that cutting vegetables into smaller pieces or shredding them before boiling helps remove a lot more potassium compared to just leaching (9).

Another study suggests that the double cooking method (boiling, rinsing, and boiling again) is more effective in drawing out maximum potassium from tuberous root vegetables (10).

All these techniques are highly effective and may help you reduce and optimize potassium levels in your diet. Consult a registered dietitian to finalize the personalized measures for maintaining the required level of potassium in your diet. They can recommend some healthy low-potassium foods to choose from.

Your doctor may also prescribe diureticsⁱ  Medications that increase urine production and help get rid of the excess fluid and salt from the body. and potassium bindersⁱ  Medications that help remove excess potassium from the bloodstream in individuals with hyperkalemia. to bring your potassium levels under control (11), (12). This excess potassium is then passed through urine and stool. However, prevention is better than cure, and your diet plays a huge role in managing hyperkalemia.

Did You Know?

Potassium binders can bring potassium levels under the normal range within 10 hours (13).

In the case of a potassium overdose, you may need certain low-potassium foods that can help regulate the potassium levels. Check out the next sections to learn more about foods to eat and avoid.

Low-Potassium Diet: Foods To Eat And Avoid

Foods To Eat

Vegetables

Here is the list of low-potassium vegetables that you may eat (14), (15):

• Green peas
• Cauliflower
• Corn (sweet yellow)
• Parsnip
• Green onion
• Iceberg lettuce
• Radish
• Cucumber
• Green cabbage
• Leaf lettuce

Fruits

Here are some fruits that are low in potassium (16), (17):

• Apples
• Strawberries
• Tangerines
• Pineapple
• Pear
• Lime
• Lemon
• Grapefruit
• Honeydew melon

Other Low-Potassium Foods

Check out some foods that are low in potassium (18), (19), (20):

• Rice milk
• Egg whites
• White rice
• Toasted bread
• Pasta
• Corn Flakes

Foods To Avoid

Vegetables

Here are some vegetables that you need to avoid or consume in moderation (1), (15), (21):

• Dried beans and peas
• Brussel sprouts
• Spinach
• Sweet potato
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Celery
• Cauliflower
• Mushroom
• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Beet greens
• Carrot
• White beans

Fruits And Dried Fruits

Avoid these fruits to prevent spikes in potassium levels (1), (17), (21):

• Sweet cherries
• Watermelon
• Plums
• Nectarines
• Oranges
• Avocado
• Dried apricots
• Dates
• Kiwifruit
• Prune
• Grapes
• Cantaloupe

Other High-Potassium Foods

Watch your portion sizes when consuming the following foods as they contain high levels of potassium (14), (21):

• Dairy products (cheese, milk, ice cream, yogurt)
• Organ meats, liver
• Dark colas/sodas
• Oysters
• Sardines
• Yogurt
• Chocolate
• Bran cereals and oatmeal, whole grain products
• Nuts and nut butters
• Egg yolks
• Salmon
• Pork chop
• Cod

Comparison of potassium content in commonly consumed fruits

This list of low-potassium foods may be very restrictive, but you may still enjoy a variety of medium or high-potassium foods by carefully selecting the portions. We have shared a sample low-potassium diet plan below to help you plan your meals. However, this is just for reference. It is best to consult a certified dietitian to decide your meal size and ingredients. Scroll down.

Sample Low-Potassium Diet Plan

Following this detailed diet plan will help you keep your potassium levels in check. Remember to watch your portions or you may end up getting too much potassium. Following a low-potassium diet need not be boring. You can still enjoy hearty and flavorful meals. Check out the next section for recipe ideas.

Low-Potassium Diet Recipes

Breakfast Recipes

1. Spiced Porridge And Stewed Apples

Ingredients

• 40g of oats
• 200 mL of skimmed milk
• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
• A pinch of allspice
• 1 apple (diced or sliced)
• 2 teaspoons of water

How To Prepare

1. Add oats, milk, a pinch of cinnamon, and allspice to a saucepan. Let the mixture come to a boil and then simmer for 5-7 minutes until it thickens.
2. Boil apple and cinnamon in the water in a separate pan. Keep the flame low.
3. Add the cooked apple on top of the porridge and serve it hot.

2. Haddock And Lettuce Kedgeree

Ingredients

• 1 onion
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric
• ½ teaspoon of curry powder
• 2 garlic cloves (crushed and chopped)
• 500g ready-to-cook rice
• A large ladleful of low-salt vegetable stock
• 2 filets of haddock (cut into pieces)
• A handful of green lettuce (blanched and torn into pieces)
• Fresh parsley for garnish

How To Prepare

1. Sauté onion in olive oil until soft and golden. Add the turmeric and curry powder.
2. Stir in the crushed garlic cloves with the ready-cooked rice and a ladle of low-salt vegetable stock.
3. Add the haddock pieces and lettuce. Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the fish is cooked.
4. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve and enjoy!

Dinner Recipes

1. Basil Pesto Pasta

Ingredients

• 250g of dry pasta
• 2 cloves of garlic (paste)
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (shredded)
• 2 cups of freshly chopped basil
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1/4 cup of pine nuts (chopped)

How To Prepare

1. Boil pasta, drain the water, and set it aside.
2. Take a fresh bowl and mix garlic, basil, and shredded parmesan cheese to make basil pesto sauce.
3. Mix basil pesto sauce, pasta, and oil.
4. Your dish is ready! Serve it hot or cold.

2. Crispy Corn Fritters

Ingredients

• 2 cups of corn
• 1/2 cup of white flour
• 1/3 cup of rice milk
• 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 1/8 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 egg (lightly beaten)

How To Prepare

1. Mix white flour, corn, sugar, baking soda, salt, garlic powder, and pepper until the ingredients bind together well.
2. Whisk the egg whites and add them to the corn mixture. Add rice milk and stir until well combined.
3. Heat oil in a pan on medium flame. Scoop two tablespoons of corn mixture into the hot oil and flatten it. Flip and fry until it turns golden brown on both sides.
4. Fry all fritters like this one by one and your crispy meal is ready to enjoy!

Soup Recipes

1. Creamy Green Pea Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 red onion (diced)
• 1 green onion greens (chopped)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• ½ cup of green peas
• 1 cup of vegetable stock (made with some cabbage, lettuce, and radish)
• 1 tablespoon of heavy cream
• Salt and black pepper to taste

How To Prepare

1. Heat oil in a pan and saute onion and garlic on a low to medium flame.
2. Add peas and vegetable stock and stir well. Let it simmer until the peas are cooked.
3. Remove the soup and cool it for a few minutes. Blend it in a blender.
4. Put the blended soup back in the pan over medium-high heat. Add cream. Season it with salt and pepper, stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes.
5. Your soup is ready. Pour it into a bowl and savor it!

2. Corn Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 2 teaspoons of garlic (minced)
• ½ sweet onion (chopped)
• 1 cup of sodium-free chicken stock
• ½ head of green cabbage (shredded)
• ¼ carrots (diced)
• 6 cups of water
• ¼ cups of corn
• 2 pinches of black pepper powder
• 2 tablespoons of fresh thyme (chopped)

How To Prepare

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Sauté onion and garlic until softened.
3. Add water to the pan. Now, add chicken stock, carrots, and cabbage and bring to a boil. Let the mix simmer for about 20-30 minutes.
4. Season the soup with black pepper. Garnish with the thyme and serve it hot.

These lip-smacking recipes are a healthy option for those on a low-potassium diet. Please note that these recipes also include some high-potassium ingredients, which are safe to consume in a moderate quantity. However, always consult a dietitian for personalized dietary recommendations and portion sizes.

Infographic: Things To Remember When On A Low-Potassium Diet

A low-potassium diet can be restrictive to follow. But it does not have to be limited to low-potassium foods only. You can make it more flavorful by carefully selecting different foods and trying different cooking methods. The infographic below covers some important points that will help you with your low-potassium diet. Take a look.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is brinjal high in potassium?

Brinjal or eggplant is not high in potassium as 100 g of brinjal contains 229 mg of potassium (22).

Is curd high in potassium?

No, the curd is a low-potassium food as 100 g of curd contains only 137 mg of potassium (23).

Are almonds high in potassium?

Yes. Almonds are a rich source of potassium. A hundred grams of almonds contain 733 mg of potassium (24).

How can I check my potassium level at home?

You can not check your potassium level at home. Correct potassium levels can be checked only through a blood or urine test.

Can high potassium cause leg cramps?

Yes. A study suggests that overdosing on potassium potassium may cause leg cramps or muscle cramps (25).

What are the symptoms of high potassium in the elderly?

High potassium levels in the elderly may lead to life-threatening symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, or paralysis (5). Elderly people with chronic hyperkalemia may remain asymptomatic. However, those experiencing sudden spikes in potassium levels may develop severe symptoms such as palpitations, drowsiness, cold skin, mental confusion, and a fall in blood pressure (4).

Does watermelon have potassium?

Yes, 100 g of watermelon contains about 270 mg of potassium (17).

Illustration: Low Potassium Diet: What Is It How It Works And Foods To Eat & Avoid

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Cooking vegetables through the process of leaching and boiling can reduce their potassium levels. Check out the following video to learn how to cook potatoes and vegetables for a low-potassium diet.

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