{"id":859,"date":"2017-06-22T05:17:03","date_gmt":"2017-06-22T05:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=859"},"modified":"2021-03-11T21:13:57","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T21:13:57","slug":"21-foods-low-potassium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/21-foods-low-potassium\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Foods Low in Potassium"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Potassium is very good for us on the whole, being a crucial electrolyte that is used to help support the nerves and the function of our bodies. Getting more potassium in your diet is one of the best ways to help combat cramps and if these are keeping you up at night, then you will do well to seek out a banana or another option.<\/p>\n

However, if you are suffering from chronic kidney failure \u2013 which causes hyperkalemia or high potassium \u2013 then you need to try and make sure that you limit the amount that you are getting from your diet. For most of us, the recommended daily value is around 4,700 milligrams. However, if you have this condition then you should decrease your intake of potassium to 1,500 or 2,700 depending on your personal circumstances.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of high potassium include tiredness and weakness, numbness and tingling, difficulty breathing, chest pains, palpitations, irregular heartbeat and nausea\/vomiting \u2013 among others.
\nIf you are suffering from high potassium then your doctor will likely recommend the aforementioned low-potassium diet. But in order to stick to this, you\u2019re going to need to know precisely which foods are safest to eat.<\/p>\n

Note that you can do this by checking the nutritional information on the packets of all your favorite foods and keeping a note of what each food contains. But better is to have some idea going in of which foods are okay to eat so that you can save yourself a lot of time and effort.<\/p>\n

And with that in mind, let\u2019s examine 21 foods that are low in potassium\u2026<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Blueberries<\/h3>\n

Most fruits will contain some potassium, which will make life a little difficult. Fruits are pretty much impossible to avoid and not only that but they also contain a lot of important nutrients that you need in your diet. For that reason, it pays to know which fruits you can eat safely without adding too much potassium to your body and one of the best options is blueberries. Blueberries<\/a> will offer you 63 milligrams for half a cup and will also come packed with antioxidants that can protect your cells against oxidative damage and likewise reduce the likelihood of developing cancer.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. \u00a0Grapes<\/h3>\n

Also, high on the low potassium list are grapes<\/a>. Grapes are deliciously cooling with crunchy skins and plenty of sweet juice.<\/p>\n

They make the ideal convenient snacks and they can also enjoyed with a range of other savory foods such as cheese. Just make sure you check whatever you eat with the grapes as well in that case though!<\/p>\n

Grapes will add 93 milligrams for every 10 you eat, which keeps them definitely on the lower half.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. \u00a0Watermelon<\/h3>\n

A watermelon<\/a> is largely water, which helps to ensure that you won\u2019t get too much of anything. But that said, it does contain a little more potassium than either of our other two fruits on this list so far and if you eat a one-cup serving, you\u2019ll get anywhere between 100 and 200 milligrams.<\/p>\n

One of the best benefits of watermelon is that it is hydrating and if you eat a watermelon it\u2019s a great way to get fluids into you without relying entirely on tap water!<\/p>\n

\"\"4. \u00a0Canned Pineapple<\/h3>\n

Pineapple<\/a> will similarly get you around 100-200 milligrams of potassium when eaten from a can.<\/p>\n

Pineapple is packed with immune-system boosting vitamin C and a range of other benefits. Of particular interest is bromelain, which is a digestive enzyme. Getting bromelain in your diet will help you to better breakdown foods and thus absorb the nutrients you eat.<\/p>\n

Note that it is recommended that you drain the juice from canned pineapple before eating, as this can have all manner of different additives and is likely to contain more potassium.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. \u00a0Apple<\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t eat too much apple<\/a> but if you eat a small apple, then you can get somewhere below the 200 milligram mark.<\/p>\n

This is worthwhile, seeing as apples are actually a fantastic source of vitamin C and can do a world of good to boost your immune system. They can also be mood boosting because they raise serotonin (the natural feel-good hormone) and they can aid with recovery following a workout.<\/p>\n

Finding the right fruits in your low-potassium diet is a matter of not only looking for those that have the lowest potassium levels but also those that offer you the most benefits. Apple is just such a fruit that offers good \u2018bang for your buck\u2019.<\/p>\n

Eat with the skin for lots of added dietary fiber.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. \u00a0Strawberries<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve already seen some of the impressive benefits of berries \u2013 these are antioxidant power-houses which means they can help to prolong your life and keep you looking younger in the meantime.<\/p>\n

And strawberries<\/a> are a good source of their antioxidants, vitamins and minerals for those people who want to try and avoid potassium. A serving of strawberries will come with between 100-200 milligrams of potassium, which puts them in the safe category.<\/p>\n

Fruits to avoid meanwhile are bananas, prunes, papapya, cantaloupe and honeydew melon. These are very high in potassium.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. \u00a0Cabbage<\/h3>\n

Cabbage<\/a> gets a lot of love as an anti-cancer food and it can also help you to meet your fiber needs. Not only that, but cabbage is also a very versatile food that can be used to help you avoid carbs and calories.<\/p>\n

Cabbage is especially helpful when it is used for sandwich wraps for example and it can also be used to make delicious meals like golumpki that don\u2019t require any carbohydrates on the side.<\/p>\n

The good news is that this cruciferous vegetable contains very little potassium too \u2013 only providing you with 170mg from a serving.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. \u00a0Refined Oils<\/h3>\n

You can eat a range of different refined oils with no problem. For example, flaxseed oil<\/a> contains no potassium and also no sodium, phosphorous and magnesium. It only has 0.1mg of calcium.<\/p>\n

This is handy for those that want to cook with oils, but it\u2019s important to note that refined oils aren\u2019t particularly healthy in a range of other ways!<\/p>\n

\"\"9. \u00a0Lettuce<\/h3>\n

Like cabbage, lettuce<\/a> is a great choice of green leafy vegetable if you are trying to avoid potassium.<\/p>\n

This is because a single cup of iceberg lettuce will contain under 100 milligrams per serving. Not only that but it\u2019s also one of the most versatile healthy foods going \u2013 being the main ingredient in most of the salads that we prepare!<\/p>\n

Just make sure you are careful to avoid adding other ingredients into that salad which may raise the potassium total.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. \u00a0Cucumber<\/h3>\n

If you consume half a cup of cucumber<\/a> slices then you\u2019ll once again be getting under 100 milligrams for each serving. Cucumber is another very watery food which makes it great for combating hydration and it also contains additional nutrients.<\/p>\n

Once again, cucumber is a highly versatile food that is often found in salads and it is also a good choice in sandwiches.<\/p>\n

So with your cucumber and lettuce, you\u2019re starting to get a healthy salad together that you can eat regardless of your potassium limit!<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, tomatoes and tomato juice are off limits however, containing over 400 milligrams of potassium per serving.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. \u00a0Carrots<\/h3>\n

Carrots<\/a> are an under-heralded health food that deserve a lot more credit! Carrots are again highly versatile and convenient. You can grate these into a bolognaise or a range of other mince meals, you can add them to a salad or you can have them raw and dip them into something.<\/p>\n

Carrots are also fantastically healthy, being great sources of fiber and even more importantly \u2013 great sources of vitamin A and lutein. Lutein can help to increase your energy levels, boost your mood and maybe even improve your brain function while both are very good at protecting your vision as you age.<\/p>\n

In short then, carrots are a convenient and healthy snack that is highly good for you.<\/p>\n

And if you eat a single portion of carrots, then you\u2019ll be consuming no more than 200 milligrams of potassium.<\/p>\n

\"\"12. \u00a0Broccoli<\/h3>\n

Broccoli<\/a> is one of the go-to vegetables for many people. Making a meat meal and need some veg to go on the side? Then broccoli is likely to be among your top pics!<\/p>\n

And this is a good choice, seeing as broccoli is very healthy for you and safe for a low potassium diet. Broccoli is a great source of fiber and also a good place to get your calcium to help strengthen bones and even increase your muscle contractions. Not only that, but broccoli is also a great source of vitamin C to help increase your immune function and it is very low in calories. It\u2019s fairly innocuous in taste, so there are unlikely to be too many people who dislike broccoli!<\/p>\n

And on top of all that, broccoli is also low in potassium \u2013 getting you somewhere in the region of 100-200 milligrams per serving.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. \u00a0Green Beans<\/h3>\n

Green beans<\/a> are a good option for those looking to avoid potassium. These once again provide you with lots of calcium and vitamin C, while also being a convenient option to add to the side of a plate.<\/p>\n

Beans are also a great source of lean protein, especially for those that are vegetarian and might not be getting their protein from meat sources.<\/p>\n

Green beans will get you somewhere between 100-200 milligrams of potassium per serving, once again making them relatively safe to eat in the right amounts.<\/p>\n

\"\"14. \u00a0Eggs<\/h3>\n

If it\u2019s a low-potassium protein source you\u2019re after though, then you need look no further than eggs. Eggs<\/a> are incredible superfoods that do so many things that everyone needs to try and get more of them in their diet.<\/p>\n

Eggs raise the good kind of cholesterol, not the bad, and might be able to help men increase their testosterone levels. Everyone can benefit from the fact that eggs are a \u2018complete\u2019 protein source meanwhile, which basically means that they provide every one of the essential amino acids that we need to get from our diet.<\/p>\n

This means they can support muscle growth (which is why bodybuilders love them so much) but they can also support the healing of wounds, brain function and more.<\/p>\n

And speaking of brain function, eggs are high in choline, which the brain converts to acetycholine and uses to send signals.<\/p>\n

And when you eat eggs, you\u2019ll get only 55 milligrams for each one.<\/p>\n

\"\"15. \u00a0Cheddar Cheese<\/h3>\n

Earlier I mentioned that you could eat grapes on a low potassium diet. And I also mentioned that grapes went great with cheese<\/a>! But then I warned that you had to be careful what you paired them with\u2026<\/p>\n

Well, I\u2019m not going to leave you in the dark! The unfortunate bad news is that you can\u2019t eat a lot of dairy products and things like milk and yogurt are off the cards. This also goes for cheeses to a large extent with a few exceptions. Cheddar cheese for instance only has 28 milligrams for each serving, meaning that you can enjoy the delicious taste in your sandwiches and with grapes.<\/p>\n

Cheddar cheese is also a good source of dairy and of some of the things that you might be forced to miss out on by avoiding milk.<\/p>\n

\"\"16. \u00a0American Cheese<\/h3>\n

American cheese is another cheese that you\u2019re okay to eat on a low potassium<\/a> diet. A single serving of this cheese will only get you 79 milligrams, which is not bad going!<\/p>\n

So it\u2019s not exactly a cheese board, but if you\u2019re partial to cheese (and let\u2019s face it: who isn\u2019t?) then you can enjoy a couple of different types of cheese alongside a few grapes. If you\u2019re going to go for chutney then be careful to read the label!<\/p>\n

\"\"17. \u00a0Ice Cream<\/h3>\n

Speaking of things that are delicious to eat and you might have been worried you\u2019d have to leave behind\u2026 it turns out that you can get away with eating ice cream<\/a>! Amazing news to many people no doubt.<\/p>\n

A vanilla ice cream is a moderately low potassium treat which falls into a similar range as apples and some other fruits. You\u2019ll get only 131 milligrams per half a cup and this is a great way to cool off in summer or just enjoy a delicious treat.<\/p>\n

\"\"18. \u00a0Chocolate Bars<\/h3>\n

I\u2019m not saying that you should go out and eat as many chocolate<\/a> bars as you please \u2013 this certainly isn\u2019t a healthy food! But chocolate bars are low in potassium and a 1.5 ounce bar of chocolate will only contain 169 milligrams.<\/p>\n

And actually, some kinds of chocolate aren\u2019t all that bad for you! Dark chocolate for instance is high in epicatechin which does all kinds of miraculous things for the muscles and the brain.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s lower in milk (and thus lower in potassium) and it\u2019s lower in calories and fats too!<\/p>\n

\"\"19. \u00a0Bread Sticks<\/h3>\n

While we\u2019re on this topic, you\u2019re also likely to occasionally crave a savory snack.<\/p>\n

In that case, one of the best options is to enjoy gorging on some bread sticks. You won\u2019t be allowed to eat potato chips unfortunately, seeing as potatoes are actually a source of potassium and these snacks tend to be very heavily salted.<\/p>\n

However, if you pick breadsticks<\/a> or perhaps unsalted popcorn or unsalted pretzels, then you can enjoy filling yourself up without worrying.<\/p>\n

\"\"20. \u00a0Unsweetened Almond Milk<\/h3>\n

Looking for a safe alternative to milk? Then why not make like a vegan and try unsweetened almond milk<\/a> instead? This isn\u2019t completely potassium free but 100g will only contain 67mg of potassium which is just 2% of your DV.<\/p>\n

That means you can go back to enjoying all of the things that you would have enjoyed with milk and even start adding some milk to your cups of tea again.<\/p>\n

Looking for alternatives like this is often a good way to get around any limiting diet imposed for health reasons.<\/p>\n

\"\"21. \u00a0Pasta<\/h3>\n

Good news, you can cook pasta<\/a>! Consuming around 100g will only contain 44mg of potassium, which is good news seeing as pasta is used in so many different delicious dishes.<\/p>\n

Better yet, you usually won\u2019t need that much pasta to enjoy your food \u2013 and 50-75g tends to be enough for most people.<\/p>\n

That means you can go ahead and enjoy something like a carbonara as long as you are careful to use the right substitutes in the recipe and the right types of cheese for instance.<\/p>\n\r\n

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