When managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) or other health conditions, dietary adjustments become crucial. A kidney-friendly eating plan can help you stay healthier and slow down damage to your kidneys. This article delves into the specifics of a low-potassium diet, explaining its importance, providing food lists, and offering practical tips for implementation.
Understanding the Need for a Kidney-Friendly Eating Plan
When you have kidney disease, it is important to watch what you eat and drink because your kidneys cannot remove waste products as well as they should. A kidney-friendly eating plan is a way of eating that helps you stay healthy and can slow down damage to your kidneys. It includes foods that are easy on your kidneys and limits other foods and fluids so certain minerals in those foods, like potassium, do not build up to high levels in your body.
A kidney-friendly eating plan helps you manage your kidney disease and slow down damage to your kidneys. It does this by preventing certain minerals from building up in your body, which is important because your kidneys do not work as well to remove waste products from your body. A kidney-friendly eating plan can also help prevent other serious health problems and controls high blood pressure and diabetes, which can prevent kidney disease from getting worse. It also ensures that you get the right balance of nutrients to help you: Have energy to do your daily tasksPrevent infectionBuild muscleStay at a healthy weight
The Role of Potassium in the Body
Potassium is an essential mineral that helps the body function properly. It helps your nerves, muscles, and heart work the right way. Potassium is a mineral you get from food that your body uses to:Help balance the fluid levels in your cellsKeep your nerves and muscles healthyHelp control your blood pressureYour kidneys are responsible for keeping a healthy amount of potassium in your body.
Potassium is an important mineral that is used to help keep the heart, kidneys, muscles, and nerves working well. The following foods contain potassium: FruitsVegetablesPlant and animal proteinsDairy products Salt substitutes like Dash seasonings or NoSaltBeverages like milk, tea, coffee, alcohol, and fruit and vegetable juices
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Why a Low-Potassium Diet Matters
For individuals with kidney disease, maintaining a healthy potassium level is crucial. When someone has kidney disease, their body has a hard time taking extra potassium out of the blood. Potassium is typically filtered out of the body by the kidneys through the urine. If it’s not removed, potassium levels increase and can cause health complications. When your kidneys are working well, they balance the potassium levels in your body. Any extra gets flushed into your pee so you can get rid of it when you pee. When you have high levels of potassium in your blood, your kidneys can’t do this as well. You can help your kidneys by cutting back on how much potassium you take in through the food you eat.
Too much potassium in your blood doesn’t always cause symptoms, but it can damage your heart. For some people, it can even be life-threatening. A low-potassium diet can play a key role in treating hyperkalemia and preventing these serious problems.
July 22, 202240%-50%of people with kidney disease experience hyperkalemia or high potassium. Hyperkalemia is a serious health condition that can cause irregular heartbeat or a heart attack. A simple blood test and your kidney disease stage will determine whether your potassium levels are too high.
Your doctor may suggest you limit your potassium intake if you have the following medical conditions:Kidney disease Adrenal insufficiency or Addison's diseaseType 1 diabetesCongestive heart failureLiver diseaseCertain drugs can also make it hard for your body to get rid of extra potassium. These include:Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) that are used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and kidney diseaseCertain kinds of diuretics, such as amiloride, spironolactone, furosemide, and chlorothiazide, which are used to treat high blood pressureNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for painDigoxin, which is used to treat heart failure and heart rhythm abnormalitiesPotassium penicillin, which is used to treat serious bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, other respiratory tract infections, and scarlet feverSuccinylcholine, which is a muscle relaxer you may get before surgery or if you have to be on a breathing machine
Understanding Potassium Levels and Diet
The body closely regulates potassium levels. Dietary potassium is filtered through your kidneys before being removed in urine. People who have kidney damage or issues may have trouble keeping potassium levels in range. With kidney disease, the kidneys are not as effective at filtering potassium. This potentially leads to too much potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia), especially if you consume regular to excessive amounts of potassium. If you have kidney disease, it’s important to make sure that you are eating and drinking the right amount of potassium-containing foods and drinks.
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Recommendations vary based on stage of chronic kidney disease as well as other factors, like the presence of additional conditions such as diabetes. Individuals with hyperkalemia or Addison’s disease may also benefit from a low-potassium diet. Please be sure to speak with your doctor and/or healthcare team regarding your individual needs prior to making any changes to your current eating habits.
The average recommended daily amount of potassium for adults is 2600 milligrams (mg) for women and 3400 mg for men. Generally, a low-potassium diet limits potassium to less than 2000 mg per day. Your medical provider may give you a different range of potassium specific to you and your health history.
Identifying High-Potassium Foods
Most foods have potassium. To keep your levels low, avoid or eat less than half a cup per day of these high-potassium foods:High-potassium foods have more than 200 mg of potassium per serving.
High-Potassium Fruits:
ApricotsBananasCantaloupeDried fruitsHoneydew melonKiwisMangoesNectarinesOrangesPapayasPomegranatesPrunesPumpkinRaisins
High-Potassium Vegetables:
AvocadoArtichokeBeetsBaked beans, black beans, refried beansBroccoli (cooked)Brussels sproutsKohlrabiLentilsOkraParsnipsPotatoes (white and sweet)RutabagasSpinach (cooked)Squash, especially acorn, butternut, and HubbardTomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato pasteVegetable juice
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP
Other High-Potassium Foods:
Bran productsChocolateCoconutCreamed soupsFrench friesGranolaIce creamMisoMolassesNutsPeanut butterPotato chipsSalt substitutesSeedsTofuYogurt
High-Potassium Drinks:
Coffee (over 8 oz)Orange juicePomegranate juicePrune juiceMilk (buttermilk, chocolate, eggnog, evaporated, malted, soy, and milkshakes)
Supplements and Herbs High in Potassium
If you have any health conditions, especially kidney disease, you should be careful with supplements and herbs. Some herbs have potassium or are hard on your kidneys.Herbal supplements that have potassium or can be hard on your kidneys include:
American ginsengBitter melonCat's clawChicoryEvening primroseFeverfewKelpLemongrassLicorice rootMugwortSassafras
Fruits High in Potassium
The following are fruits that are typically high in potassium:
raw apricots (2 medium)dried apricots (5 halves)dates (5 whole)avocados (¼ whole)bananas (½ whole)cantaloupehoneydew melongrapefruit juicekiwi (1 medium)mango (1 medium)nectarine (1 medium)orange (1 medium) or orange juicepapaya (½ fruit)pomegranate (1 whole) or pomegranate juiceprunes or prune juiceraisins
Vegetables High in Potassium
Here are vegetables with higher levels of potassium:
butternut squashartichokesbamboo shootsbeetscooked broccolibrussels sproutsraw carrotsleafy greens, except kalekohlrabiokraparsnipspotatoespumpkinrutabagacooked spinachtomatoes
Other Foods High in Potassium
Some legumes, beans, and seeds also contain more potassium, including:
baked beansblack beansnuts and seeds (1 oz.)peanut butter (2 tbsp.)dried beans and peaslentils
People looking to limit their potassium levels may also need to avoid salt substitutes, which may contain higher levels of potassium.
Embracing Low-Potassium Foods
Low-potassium foods are foods that have less than 200 mg of potassium per serving. Choosing Low-Potassium Foods and Adjusting Serving SizesLow-potassium foods are foods that have less than 200 mg of potassium per serving. Low-potassium foods include olive oil, applesauce, and asparagus. The recommended serving size for these low-potassium foods is 1/2 cup. Be mindful not to overdo it, as too much of a low-potassium food makes it a high-potassium food.
Low-Potassium Fruits:
Apples and applesauceBlackberriesBlueberriesCranberriesFruit cocktailGrapesMandarin orangesPeachesPearsPineapplePlumsRaspberriesStrawberriesTangerineWatermelon
Low-Potassium Vegetables:
Alfalfa sproutsAsparagus (6 raw spears)Broccoli (raw or cooked from frozen)CabbageCarrots (cooked)CauliflowerCelery (1 stalk)Corn (half an ear if it's on the cob)CucumberEggplantGreen beans or wax beansKaleLettuceWhite mushrooms (raw)OnionParsleyPeas (green)PeppersRadishWater chestnutsWatercressYellow squash and zucchini
Other Low-Potassium Foods:
Bread (not whole grain)Cake (angel or yellow)Cookies (no nuts or chocolate)NoodlesPastaPies (unless it's made with chocolate or high-potassium fruits)Rice
Low-Potassium Drinks:
Certain fruit juices, such as apple, grape, and pineappleCoffee (less than 8 oz)Tea (less than 16 oz)
Low-Potassium Fruits List
Here are 40 low-potassium fruits and vegetables you can add to your grocery cart.
FruitServing sizeApple1 mediumApplesauce½ cupApricots, canned in juice½ cup (drain liquid first)Blackberries½ cupBlueberries½ cupCherries½ cupCranberries½ cupFruit cocktail½ cup (drain liquid first)Grapes or grape juice½ cupGrapefruit½ wholeMandarin oranges½ cupPeaches1 small fresh or ½ cup cannedPears1 small fresh or ½ cup cannedPineapple½ cupPineapple juice4 ouncesPlums1 wholeRaspberries½ cupStrawberries½ cupTangerines1 wholeWatermelonLimit to one cup
Low-Potassium Vegetables List
VegetableServing sizeAlfalfa sprouts½ cupAsparagus6 spearsBeans, green or wax½ cupBroccoli (raw or cooked from frozen)½ cupGreen cabbage½ cupRed cabbage½ cupCarrots, cooked½ cupCauliflower½ cupCelery1 stalkCucumber½ cupEggplant½ cupKale½ cupWhite mushrooms, raw½ cupOnions½ cupPeas, green½ cupPeppers½ cupYellow squash½ cupZucchini squash½ cupRadish½ cupWater chestnuts, canned½ cup
Can I eat eggs on a low-potassium diet?
Yes, eggs are considered a low-potassium food. One large egg contains about 63 milligrams of potassium. The National Kidney Foundation states that eggs are a good source of protein with low sodium and potassium. If you have kidney disease, check with your doctor about how many eggs you can eat because eggs are also a good source of phosphorous, which you may also need to limit.
Practical Tips for Managing Potassium Intake
Consult Professionals: Always talk to your doctor and a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet. A healthcare professional or dietitian will advise you as to the specific level of restriction you need based on your individual health.
Monitor Portion Sizes: Watch your serving sizes. A low-potassium food can quickly become high-potassium if you eat a lot of it. Keep an eye on your portions. Some serving sizes may be smaller than you think. For instance, a serving of chicken is about the size of your palm.
Read Food Labels: Check the Nutrition Facts on the package to see how much potassium a food contains. Try to choose items that contain no more than 100 milligrams of potassium per serving.
Plan Ahead: If you know you’ll be eating dinner out and want to enjoy some foods that may be high-potassium, try to stick to low-potassium foods throughout the day leading up to your meal out.
Adjust Cooking Methods:
- Cooking in water, pressure cooking, and cooking in the microwave reduces potassium levels in cereals, fruits, meats, legumes, and leafy and cruciferous (broccoli and cauliflower) vegetables.
- Soaking reduces potassium levels in white and sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, and leafy and cruciferous vegetables.
- Steam cooking and dry heating can also reduce potassium, although not as well as soaking or cooking in water.
Leaching Vegetables: You can leach potassium from vegetables before cooking. Leaching is a process by which some potassium can be pulled out of the vegetable. Learn how to leach vegetables.
Avoid Certain Liquids: The juices in canned fruits and vegetables, as well as cooked meats, contain high amounts of potassium. Avoid drinking them or using them in recipes as much as you can.
Skip Salt Substitutes: On a low-potassium diet, you’ll need to skip low-sodium salt or other “fake” salts. Flavor your food with herbs and spices instead.
Get Support: If you need help with meal plans or figuring out food swaps, talk to a dietitian or nutritionist. Your doctor can refer you to one.
Rethink your cooking methods. Boiling helps draw the potassium out of some vegetables. You can also try blanching. You boil for 1 minute, then drain and rinse. You can then use them in a stir-fry, soup, or casserole.
Cooking to Reduce Potassium
Most ways that you use to cook food can lower its potassium levels. It may also be helpful to cut them into smaller pieces while cooking to help decrease the potassium level.
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. For some, leaching may be too time-consuming. An study from 2023 found that simply bringing a pot of water to the boil, removing it from the heat, then soaking the potassium-rich foods in the hot water for 5-10 minutes can reduce the potassium. For canned or potted fruits and vegetables, drain and rinse them to remove any excess minerals in the canning liquid.
Sample Meal Plan
Depending on your needs, a low-potassium diet plan might look like this:
- Fruit: 1-3 servings of low-potassium fruits, such as apples or grapes
- Vegetables: 2-3 servings of low-potassium vegetables, such as carrots or corn
- Dairy/calcium-rich foods: 1-2 servings of low-potassium choices, such as cottage cheese
- Meat/plant-based meat: 3-7 servings of low-potassium choices, such as turkey or shrimp
- Grains: 4-7 servings of low-potassium grains, such as rice or noodles
*This 7-day meal plan for a low-potassium diet is only an example. Individual needs vary depending on your underlying medical condition. Please be sure to speak with your doctor and/or healthcare team regarding your individual needs prior to making any changes to your current routine.
Additional Considerations
- Fiber Intake: You might find that you are more prone to constipation on a low-potassium diet. Many fiber-rich foods are also high in potassium. Fiber supports healthy bowel movements and reduces constipation. A registered dietitian can help you figure out how to safely increase your fiber intake to ease symptoms of constipation while staying within your potassium limit.
- Blood Pressure: Eating foods high in potassium can help lower blood pressure. This is possible because potassium may help the body excrete sodium, which can cause high blood pressure. The inverse is also true - sometimes eating too few potassium-rich foods can increase blood pressure. It’s important to consume the right amount of potassium for your specific health conditions to keep your body functioning well.
The Importance of Consulting a Dietitian
How can I create a kidney-friendly eating plan that is right for me?Ask your doctor to refer you to a dietitian (someone with special training in food and nutrition to know which foods are right for people with kidney disease). You can talk to a dietitian about the foods you enjoy or any special requirements you have (for example, you are vegetarian or have food allergies) and they will help you create a kidney-friendly eating plan that is right for you and includes the foods you enjoy. Always talk to a dietitian before increasing or decreasing your daily intake of certain foods or nutrients. Medicare and many private insurance plans pay for a certain number of visits with a dietitian each year. Call your insurance company to ask if your plan covers medical nutrition therapy (MNT) with a dietitian. MNT is an approach to treat kidney disease through a tailored nutrition plan. As part of MNT, a dietitian will review your current eating habits, create a healthy eating plan, that includes your preferences, and help you overcome eating challenges.
Diet is your first line of defenseIt’s important to have the right amount of potassium in your diet- too little can also cause problems! Ask your doctor what your potassium levels should be, and use a dietitian to help you plan your diet properly.Find a kidney dietician near you.