List of Foods to Lower Potassium in Diet

List of Foods to Lower Potassium in Diet

You need potassium to maintain normal body functions, including muscle performance, fluid movement and nerve function, according to the website Up to Date. Excess potassium, a condition known as hyperkalemia, can result in adverse side effects, including abnormal heartbeat and kidney malfunction. High potassium levels are defined as those more than 5.0 mEq/L, according to Cleveland Clinic. In order to reduce high potassium levels, your physician might recommend a low-potassium diet.

Vegetables

Almost all foods have potassium in varying levels. According to Up to Date, you can lower the potassium level in vegetables by leaching them, which is soaking the vegetables in water for several hours before cooking them. This will cause the potassium to seep out of the vegetables and into the water. Change the water before cooking the vegetables. Low-potassium choices include artichokes, asparagus, green beans, carrots, lettuce, green onions, green peas, potatoes, spinach and squash, according to the Cleveland Clinic. You should aim for two to three servings of low-potassium vegetables per day, according to Up to Date.

Fruits

Up to Date recommends consuming one to three servings of fruits per day. Low-potassium fruits include apples, apricots, blackberries, cranberries, grapes, canned peaches, plums and watermelon, according to the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers. Just as with vegetables, you should drain and rinse the fruits before eating them to reduce potassium levels, according to Greenwich Hospital.

Dairy Products

Because milk can be high in potassium, you should limit serving sizes to 1/2-cup or 4 ounces per day of milk, buttermilk, yogurt or ice cream, according to The University of Rochester Medical Center. However, you can consume larger amounts of nondairy products such as nondairy toppings and creamers, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Sour cream also is low in potassium.

Grains

Low-potassium grain options include bagels, crackers, pasta, popcorn, refined cereals and rice, according to the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers.

Protein Sources

You should consume have six of seven servings of meat per day, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Carefully weigh serving sizes so you don't consume excess amounts of potassium. Examples of low-potassium foods and serving sizes include 1 ounce of beef, 1 ounce of chicken, one large egg, 1 ounce of fish or 3 ounces of oysters. Eat only one 1.5-tablespoon of peanut butter a day.

source:  livestronge.com