POTASSIUM RESTRICTED DIET (Low K Diet)
Very high potassium levels are usually seen in association with failing kidney function and when taking certain blood pressure and heart failure medications.
High potassium levels can cause irregular heart beat and muscle weakness.
Potassium is found in most foods- particularly fruits, vegetables, nuts, milk and meat.
When on a low potassium diet :
-avoid salt substitute (because it has potassium)
-limit fruit and vegetables to 4 serves a day ( ½ cup of each)
-limit milk (including milk products such as ice cream and yoghurt) to ½ cup a day
-use only herbs, spices and seasonings that do not contain potassium
Completely AVOID the following :
Apricots, avocado, cantaloupe (rock melon),
honey dew melon, nectarines, tangelo
Plantain
Artichokes, butter beans, dried peas, beans and lentils
Sweet potato, tomato paste or puree
Swiss chard, squash, yams
Potatoes (baked, french fries and chips)
Chocolate, molasses, nuts
Limit the following to a total of 4 servings a day ( 1 serve = ½ cup, unless other wise specified in brackets)
Asparagus, beets, brussel sprouts
Collard greens (cabbage), corn
Cow peas, kale, mixed vegetables
Mushrooms, parsnip, pumpkin
Spinach, tomato juice, tomato (canned)
Turnip, zucchini
*Potato – leached (potato should be leached before cooking by peeling it, cutting into small pieces, covering with water and soaking in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Drain well and cook in fresh water – leaching removes a lot of the potassium).
Banana ( ½ a medium) Mandarin ( ¾ of cup)
Blackberries ( ¾ cup ) Orange juice ( ½ cup)
Orange ( 1 medium) Boysenberries ( 1 cup)
Cherries (12) Peach ( 1 medium)
Pear ( 1 medium ) Figs ( 2 )
Plums ( 2 medium ) Prunes ( 3 )
Raisins ( 2 tablespoons) Prune juice ( 1 cup)
Grapefruit ( ½ ) Raspberries ( 1 cup)
Kiwi fruit ( 1 medium ) Strawberries ( 1¼ cups)
Mulberries ( 1 cup ) Watermelon ( 1¼ cups )
High potassium levels can cause irregular heart beat and muscle weakness.
Potassium is found in most foods- particularly fruits, vegetables, nuts, milk and meat.
When on a low potassium diet :
-avoid salt substitute (because it has potassium)
-limit fruit and vegetables to 4 serves a day ( ½ cup of each)
-limit milk (including milk products such as ice cream and yoghurt) to ½ cup a day
-use only herbs, spices and seasonings that do not contain potassium
Completely AVOID the following :
Apricots, avocado, cantaloupe (rock melon),
honey dew melon, nectarines, tangelo
Plantain
Artichokes, butter beans, dried peas, beans and lentils
Sweet potato, tomato paste or puree
Swiss chard, squash, yams
Potatoes (baked, french fries and chips)
Chocolate, molasses, nuts
Limit the following to a total of 4 servings a day ( 1 serve = ½ cup, unless other wise specified in brackets)
Asparagus, beets, brussel sprouts
Collard greens (cabbage), corn
Cow peas, kale, mixed vegetables
Mushrooms, parsnip, pumpkin
Spinach, tomato juice, tomato (canned)
Turnip, zucchini
*Potato – leached (potato should be leached before cooking by peeling it, cutting into small pieces, covering with water and soaking in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Drain well and cook in fresh water – leaching removes a lot of the potassium).
Banana ( ½ a medium) Mandarin ( ¾ of cup)
Blackberries ( ¾ cup ) Orange juice ( ½ cup)
Orange ( 1 medium) Boysenberries ( 1 cup)
Cherries (12) Peach ( 1 medium)
Pear ( 1 medium ) Figs ( 2 )
Plums ( 2 medium ) Prunes ( 3 )
Raisins ( 2 tablespoons) Prune juice ( 1 cup)
Grapefruit ( ½ ) Raspberries ( 1 cup)
Kiwi fruit ( 1 medium ) Strawberries ( 1¼ cups)
Mulberries ( 1 cup ) Watermelon ( 1¼ cups )
