Low Potassium Diet  
               
              What does potassium do?                       High Potassium Fruits (over 250 mg) 
              Potassium is found in your muscles. Your         •  Avocado 
              biggest muscle is your heart. Too much or        •  Banana 
              too little potassium in your blood can stop      •  Cantaloupe  
              your heartbeat.                                  •  Dried fruits: apricots, dates, figs, 
                                                                  prunes, raisins 
              What foods contain potassium?                    •  Guava 
              Milk and milk products contain high              •  Honeydew melon 
              amounts of potassium. This includes foods        •  Kiwi fruit 
              like yogurt, milk-based puddings and             •  Mango 
              custards. Avoid chocolate milk products, as      •  Nectarine 
              chocolate is high in potassium.                  •  Tangelo 
                                                               •  Prune juice 
              Some whole grain and bran cereals contain a    
              lot of potassium. Switch to more refined      High Potassium Vegetables (over 270 mg) 
              cereals that are lower in potassium.             •  Artichoke 
                                                               •  Beet and beet greens 
              Legumes, nuts, peanut butter and dried fruits 
              such as raisins, apricots, prunes, and dates     •  Kohlrabi 
              are rich sources of potassium.                   •  Legumes: lima/navy/pinto/kidney 
                                                                  beans and peas 
              Meat, fish, poultry and eggs are moderate to     •  Potato: baked/boiled/fried 
              high sources of potassium. These foods are       •  Pumpkin 
              also good sources of high-quality protein,       •  Rutabaga 
              which you need for normal body functions.        •  Spinach, cooked 
              Follow the guidelines for protein needed in      •  Sweet potato or yams 
              your diet.                                       •  Tomato 
                                                               •  Tomato and V8 juice 
              Some fruits and vegetables can also add a lot    •  Winter squash: acorn, butternut, 
              of potassium to your diet.                          hubbard 
                 •  Avoid fruits and vegetables high in      
                    potassium unless approved by your       Medium Potassium Fruits (150-250 mg) 
                    dietitian.                                 •  Cherries 
                 •  Limit fruits and vegetables with a         •  Figs, 2 
                    medium amount of potassium.                •  Grapefruit 
                 •  You can eat fruits and vegetables          •  Orange 
                    that contain low amounts of                •  Fresh peach 
                    potassium (less than 150mg).               •  Fresh pear 
                 •  A serving size is one half cup cooked      •  Watermelon 
                    or one cup raw.                            •  Juice: grape (canned/bottled), 
                 •  Check with your dietitian to find out         grapefruit, orange, pineapple 
                    how much potassium your diet will        
                    allow. 
                Medium Potassium Vegetables (150-270                 Low Potassium Vegetables (150 mg or 
                mg)                                                  less):     
                    •  Asparagus                                         •   Broccoli 
                    •  Brussel sprouts                                   •   Bean sprouts 
                    •  Cauliflower                                       •   Green, wax beans 
                    •  Carrots                                           •   Cabbage 
                    •  Corn                                              •   Celery 
                    •  Garbanzo beans                                    •   Corn, frozen, boiled 
                    •  Greens, frozen, cooked: collards,                 •   Cucumber 
                       kale, turnip                                      •   Eggplant 
                    •  Mixed vegetables                                  •   Green peas 
                    •  Potatoes, double cooked*                          •   Greens, raw: dandelion, mustard, 
                    •  Zucchini boiled                                       spinach, turnip 
                                                                         •   Lettuce: cos, endive, iceberg, leaf, 
                *See double cooking instructions below                       romaine, watercress 
                                                                         •   Mushrooms 
                Low Potassium Fruits (150 mg or less)                    •   Onions 
                    •  Apple                                             •   Peppers, sweet or hot 
                    •  Applesauce                                        •   Radishes 
                    •  Blackberries                                      •   Summer squash 
                    •  Blueberries                                       •   Turnips 
                    •  Boysenberries                                     •   Water chestnuts canned 
                    •  Canned peaches, pears, fruit cocktail          
                    •  Canned mandarin oranges                       How to double cook potatoes (to lower the 
                    •  Gooseberries                                  potassium). Wash and peel the potato. Slice 
                    •  Grapes                                        into thin slices. Place the sliced potato in 
                    •  Lemon                                         room temperature water. Use two times the 
                    •  Lime                                          amount of water to the amount of potato. 
                    •  Pineapple (fresh or canned)                   Bring to a boil. Drain the water and add two 
                    •  Rhubarb                                       times the amount of water to the amount of 
                    •  Strawberries                                  potatoes of fresh room temperature water. 
                    •  Tangerines                                    Boil again. 
                    •  Juice: apple, cranberry, grape (frozen 
                       concentrate) 
                    •  Nectars: peach, pear 
                 
                 
                                                                  
               Salt Substitutes                                    Teach Back: 
               Many salt substitutes are made with                 What is the most important thing you 
               potassium chloride so you should not use            learned from this handout? 
               them  (i.e. Lite Salt, No Salt, Nu Salt).            
               Below are some seasonings that you can use          What changes will you make in your 
               freely.                                             diet/lifestyle, based on what you learned 
                   •   Vegit - at Copp’s and Sentry food          today? 
                       stores in Madison.                           
                   •   Pleasoning Mini Salt – at                   If you are a UW Health patient and have 
                       Woodman’s stores in Madison area,           more questions please contact UW Health at 
                       or www.pleasoning.com or call               one of the phone numbers listed below. You 
                       800.279.1614 for a catalog.                 can also visit our website at 
                   •   Mrs. Dash – all types.                      www.uwhealth.org/nutrition. 
                   •   Non-sodium spices and herbs, such            
                       as garlic, basil, oregano, pepper, etc.     Nutrition clinics for UW Hospital and 
                                                                   Clinics (UWHC) and American Family 
               To be safe, always read the labels of any           Children’s Hospital (AFCH) can be reached 
               prepared foods you buy. Avoid those that            at: (608) 890-5500. 
               list potassium.                                      
                                                                   Nutrition clinics for UW Medical 
                                                                   Foundation (UWMF) can be reached at: 
                                                                   (608) 287-2770. 
                
                
                 
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               Your health care team may have given you this information as part of your care. If so, please use it and call if you 
               have any questions. If this information was not given to you as part of your care, please check with your doctor. This 
               is not medical advice. This is not to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Because each 
               person’s health needs are different, you should talk with your doctor or others on your health care team when using 
               this information. If you have an emergency, please call 911. Copyright © 6/2019 University of Wisconsin Hospitals 
               and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#222