A low-potassium diet may reduce the burden on the kidneys and keep potassium levels in check. Low-potassium foods can help a person lower their potassium levels. Examples include fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources.

Potassium is a mineral found in a variety of foods, and it plays many important roles in the body, including keeping fluid levels balanced.

The kidneys help filter fluids and excess waste products from the blood. In doing so, they balance out blood potassium and electrolyte levels.

However, some health conditions may limit the kidneys from functioning properly. This could lead to high levels of potassium, which may cause complications.

This article looks at why and for whom monitoring dietary potassium is important. It also explores which foods to eat, which to avoid, and how to prepare foods so that they contain less of the mineral.

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Potassium is a key electrolyte in the body that helps support the function of a person’s:

Blood potassium levels that are too high or low may lead to serious complications, such as heart disease or cardiac arrest.

Hyperkalemia occurs when a person’s blood potassium levels rise above the healthy range of 3.5 and 5.0 mmol/L. This may impair the muscles that control the heartbeat and breathing, and could lead to:

Hypokalemia is when blood potassium levels are too low. This may cause symptoms like:

Potassium also interacts with sodium. Without enough potassium in the body, high sodium levels may lead to an increase in blood pressure.

Making dietary changes may help a person manage their potassium levels.

However, it is important to keep in mind that the nutrient is crucial for health. The goal is to choose foods that provide enough of the mineral without causing a problematic buildup.

Many potassium-restricted diets limit potassium to 2000-3000 milligrams (mg) each day. However, a doctor may recommend a different target based on an individual’s condition.

Serving sizes

Low-potassium foods contain about 200 mg or less of the mineral per serving.

Unless otherwise listed, the serving size of each food below is a 1/2 cup. Having a larger serving increases the potassium content of a meal.

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Fruits

Low-potassium fruits include:

Vegetables

Low-potassium vegetables include:

Protein sources

Beyond vegetable sources, other low-potassium sources of protein include:

Carbohydrate sources

Low-potassium foods that are rich in carbohydrates include:

Drinks and snacks

Some low-potassium options include:

  • rice milk
  • coffee (limit to 8 oz.)
  • tea (limit to 16 oz.)
  • sparkling water
  • cakes and pies without chocolate or fruits high in potassium
  • cookies without chocolate or nuts

Most people do not need to reduce their potassium levels.

In fact, people in the United States consume too little potassium in their diets. If a healthy person consumes too much, their kidneys typically excrete the excess through the urine.

That said, kidney impairment, such as chronic kidney disease, may cause hyperkalemia.

Other causes for high blood potassium levels may include:

A person with any of these health issues should work with a healthcare professional to keep their potassium levels in check. A doctor may also recommend medication to help remove the mineral from the body, such as diuretics or potassium binders.

High-potassium foods contain more than 200 mg of potassium per serving.

Unless a serving size is provided, the average serving for the foods below is 1/2 cup.

That said, simply reducing the serving size may make some of these foods acceptable.

Fruits

The following are fruits that are typically high in potassium:

Vegetables

Here are vegetables with higher levels of potassium:

Nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes

Some legumes, beans, and seeds also contain more potassium, including:

Other foods to avoid

People looking to limit their potassium levels may also need to avoid salt substitutes, which may contain higher levels of potassium.

Leaching is a technique to help draw some potassium from foods.

A person should contact a doctor about the best approach and how much to leach before trying it at home.

Leaching potassium

Leaching potassium from vegetables may look like this:

  1. Peel and rinse the vegetables under warm water.
  2. Cut the vegetables into pieces that are 1/8 inch thick.
  3. Soak them in warm water for at least 2 hours. Use 10 times as much water as there are vegetables.
  4. Rinse them under warm water again.
  5. Boil them, using 5 times as much water as there are vegetables.
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For some, leaching may be too time-consuming.

An older study from 2008 found that simply boiling some potassium-rich foods, such as cubed potatoes, for 10 minutes can reduce their potassium contents by up to 50%.

For canned or potted fruits and vegetables, drain and rinse them to remove any excess minerals in the canning liquid.

Potassium is a key mineral that supports a variety of important functions.

A person with a health issue affecting their kidneys or adrenal system may need to prevent this mineral from building up and must closely monitor their potassium intake.

A doctor may recommend a low-potassium diet. It is important to work with them closely to monitor potassium levels and keep them in check.