Low Potassium Diet Menu

There are many reasons why you may need a low potassium diet menu, but before you embark on this type of diet you should check with your physician or dietician. They can work out the proper low potassium diet menu for you. Since a normal potassium level is between 3.5 and 5.0 meqs, you may not realize that you need a low potassium diet menu.

If you have to lower your potassium, it will be necessary to limit the high potassium foods that you may be eating. A good thing to do on the low potassium diet menu is boil or soak your fruits and vegetables in water as it helps to reduce the potassium levels. Labeling of food has gotten very sophisticated, so you can find potassium listed on the package. In some cases, potassium is used as a preservative. If you have been eating foods like this, you will want to avoid them in the future.

Foods that you won't find on a low potassium diet menu would include: light salts, coffee, granola bars, sports drinks, chocolate, molasses, fig bars, bananas and the drink Ovaltine. You may want to keep a journal of the foods you eat so that you can see if they will fit into a low potassium diet menu.

When you are on a diet of this type, you can have meat, eggs, cheese, chicken, tuna, fish, lamb, veal, pork and peanut butter in the protein category. It should be measured in ounces so that you can more easily figure out the potassium. Avoid canned or salted meats and nuts with added salt.

Most fresh fruits and fresh vegetables can be eaten without problems on a low potassium diet menu. However, you should not eat bananas, strawberries, citrus fruits or avocados because they are high in potassium. Vegetables to stay away from would include potatoes, acorn squash, butternut squash, dried peas, beans and lentils, pickles, sauerkraut and olives. The key is to avoid salty foods on your low potassium diet and check with your doctor before starting any diet plan. Your doctor is your best resource for monitoring your potassium levels.

Discuss It!

Tarin Harlan said:

this article did not help at all, some of the items that are in it are in complete contrast with the diet advice given by my physician and dietitian

Bertha Phalen said:

I need menus ideas for a low potassium diet

Della Bradford Threlkeld said:

I need low potassium menus

Ann said:

This does not help me at all,we are also low income, how do I buy the proper foods?