How to determine if a food is high or low potassium
Potassium isn’t always available on the food label or in a recipe, but when it is listed, what do the numbers mean? Here’s a general potassium guideline for interpreting potassium when available in a recipe (always check with your renal dietitian for individual guidelines):
- Very low potassium: below 35 mg per serving
- Low potassium: below 150 mg per serving
- Medium potassium: 150 to 250 mg potassium per serving
- High potassium: above 250 to 500 mg potassium per serving
- Very high potassium: above 500 mg potassium per serving
A consideration is how much of the food will be consumed in relation to the potassium content. For example a recipe for Glazed Chicken and Vegetables, the main entree for a meal, contains 450 mg potassium. This is considered acceptable for a diet limited to 2000 mg potassium a day because the recipe provides a main portion of the meal. Additional low potassium sides like rice, blueberries and sourdough bread complete the meal without exceeding 1/3 of the daily potassium goal.
A medium banana at 400 mg potassium is considered high in potassium, since it is only a small portion of the daily intake. A few banana slices or 1/3 piece is a more reasonable portion of banana for a lower potassium diet.
Learning which foods are high and low in potassium is a first step in understanding the best way to eat on a low potassium diet.
Additional Kidney Diet Resources
Visit DaVita.com and explore these diet and nutrition resources:
DaVita Kidney-Friendly Recipes
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Consult your physician and dietitian regarding your specific diagnosis, treatment, diet and health questions.
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