Potassium is found in many foods. Dairy products, nuts, seeds, beans, and many fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of potassium. You need potassium for muscle function, but for some people, too much can be very dangerous. People with certain kidney diseases need a low potassium diet.

Benefit of a Low Potassium Diet:
    * Helps to lower the amount of potassium in your blood
    * Helps to maintain normal muscle and heart function

Guidelines of a Low Potassium Diet:
    * Be sure to cook frozen fruits and vegetables in water; rinse and drain well before serving.
    * Liquid should be drained from all canned fruits and vegetables and rinsed before serving.
    * Potatoes may be peeled, sliced thin, and soaked in water for at least 4 hours or overnight before rinsing and cooking. Leafy green vegetables (collards, spinach, and kale) should also be soaked for at least 4 hours and rinsed well before cooking. This helps to significantly lower the amount of potassium in these foods.
    * Check labels for words that include potassium, such as potassium chloride, to avoid potassium hidden in foods.
    * Avoid salt substitutes; many of them contain potassium. Salt-free herb blends and spices are acceptable.
    * Limit foods that are high in potassium.

High Potassium Foods
Fruits
    * Apricots, canned and fresh
    * Banana
    * Cantaloupe
    * Dried fruits - apricots, dates, figs, prunes
    * Honeydew melon
    * Kiwi
    * Nectarine
    * Orange
    * Orange Juice
    * Pear, fresh
    * Prune Juice

Vegetables
    * Asparagus
    * Avocado
    * Bamboo Shoots
    * Beets
    * Beet Greens
    * Brussels Sprouts
    * Cabbage, Chinese
    * Celery
    * Chard
    * Kohlrabi
    * Okra
    * Pepper, Chili
    * Potatoes, white and sweet
    * Pumpkin
    * Rutabaga
    * Spinach, cooked
    * Squash, winter
    * Tomato
    * Tomato sauce
    * Tomato juice
    * Vegetable juice cocktail

Legumes
    * Black-eyed Peas
    * Chick Peas
    * Lentils
    * Lima Beans
    * Navy Beans
    * Red Kidney Beans
    * Soybeans
    * Split Peas

Nuts and Seeds
    * Almonds
    * Brazil Nuts
    * Cashews
    * Peanuts
    * Peanut Butter
    * Pecans
    * Pumpkin Seeds
    * Sunflower Seeds
    * Walnuts

Breads and Cereals
    * Bran
    * Whole Grain

Miscellaneous
    * Chocolate
    * Cocoa
    * Coconut
    * Milk and Milk Products
    * Molasses
    * Substitute Salt