Should You Avoid High Potassium Foods?
Too much potassium can lead to problems for some
Too much potassium can lead to problems for some
Potassium is a highly charged mineral, commonly known as an electrolyte, that supports many of your body’s functions. It helps control your fluid balance, muscle contractions and nerve signals, including those that keep your heart working properly. It also reduces the effect of sodium on blood pressure.
While potassium is vital for many body functions, too much can be harmful for some people, especially those with kidney disease. Excess potassium for those at risk can lead to hyperkalemia, a potentially life-threatening condition.
“Hyperkalemia can develop when your kidneys aren’t working as well as they should and are unable to remove excess potassium from your body,” says Sunit Shah, DO, an internal medicine physician at Scripps Clinic Carmel Valley. “Certain medications, like diuretics (water pills), beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, also can affect potassium levels.”
Symptoms of hyperkalemia
If hyperkalemia is mild, meaning your potassium level is just slightly above normal, you may experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue or nausea.
Moderate hyperkalemia symptoms may include muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, the heart may beat too slowly or even stop beating, causing the person to collapse.
In most cases, your doctor will discover your potassium level is high through blood tests ordered for routine care or for another condition. Normal blood potassium level is 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). If yours is elevated, your doctor may recommend reducing or avoiding foods that are high in potassium. A blood potassium level above 6.0 mmol/L is dangerous and usually requires immediate treatment.
What are high potassium foods?
Potassium is found in many types of fruits, vegetables and beans. Most of these are considered healthy foods, but a typical serving of the foods below has more than 400 mg of potassium, so people with a higher risk of hyperkalemia may need to minimize or avoid them.
1. Spinach
Known as a superfood, spinach is rich in vitamins and minerals, including potassium. A half-cup of cooked spinach provides about 420 mg of potassium. Swiss chard, another popular green, is even higher at about 480 mg.
2. Avocado
Avocados are a good source of healthy fats, but also contain a considerable amount of potassium; a medium-sized avocado has about 700 mg.
3. Bananas
A medium-sized banana can contain between 400-450 mgs of potassium.
4. Potatoes
Potatoes and sweet potatoes are significant sources of potassium. A medium-sized potato with skin can contain more than 600 mg of potassium.
5. Beans and legumes
Many types of beans and legumes, including kidney beans, navy beans, lentils and split peas provide about 350 mg of potassium per half-cup serving.
6. Cantaloupe and honeydew
These sweet summer melons can be significant sources of potassium. Cantaloupe provides about 430 mg of potassium and honeydew clocks in at about 380 mg.
7. Fish
Some types of fish, including salmon, rainbow trout and whitefish, have more than 400 mg of potassium per serving.
8. Dairy products.
Several dairy products, including cow’s milk, buttermilk and Greek yogurt, contain upwards of 300 mg of potassium per 8 oz. servings. Cottage cheese has about 234 mg.
When to seek doctor advice
If you’re watching your potassium intake, is it necessary to completely cut these foods out of your diet? For most people, probably not.
“Many of the foods on this list are excellent sources of important vitamins and nutrients,” says Dr. Shah. “Instead of avoiding them, ask your doctor about having smaller portions or consuming them less frequently.”
Additionally, cooking methods can affect potassium content. Soaking or boiling potatoes, beans and legumes can help reduce the amount of potassium they provide.
If you have questions about how much potassium you should be consuming, talk with your primary care doctor.