Low Potassium
DC-312
Section 3: Therapeutic Diets
Compendium Definition
- xxx
Note:
Regular Diet with:
– Limit foods containing potassium additives
– Special cooking methods for potatoes, beans/lentils and root vegetables.
– May include high potassium item or ingredient in an entrée or soup, as long as it is NOT the main ingredient
*may include non-compliant foods to allow for greater variety in meal planning and improve patient satisfaction.
Caution: The dietitian should be consulted for specific instructions with this diet
Vegetables
Potassium in whole vegetables is attached to fiber, so the body doesn’t absorb it as easily.
Allowed
- ½ serving of non-compliant vegetable allowed to improve variety
- Special cooking methods for potatoes and root vegetables*
NOT allowed:
- artichoke
- beets
- bok Choy
- broccoli (boiled, steamed)
- brussel Sprouts
- carrots (raw)
- edamame
- french Beans
- mushrooms (cooked, dried)
- parsnips
- potato (baked, fried, potato chips, French fries, hash browns, scalloped potato)
- pumpkin
- rutabagas
- snow Peas
- soybean Sprouts
- spinach (boiled)
- squash
- sweet Potato
- swiss Chard
- tomato Products:
- tomato sauce (including pizza sauce and pasta sauce)
- tomato paste and tomato soup
- canned tomato
- zucchini
Fruit
Potassium in whole fruits is attached to fiber, so the body doesn’t absorb it as easily.
Allowed
- any fruit item not listed in the “Foods Not Allowed” section
NOT allowed:
- apricots (fresh, dried)
- avocado
- banana
- cantaloupe
- dried fruit (apricots, coconut, dates, figs, mango, peaches, pears, prunes)
- guava
- kiwi
- oranges (navel, valencia)
- nectarines
- papaya
- passion Fruit
- peach (drained, canned peaches are OK)
- pomegranate
- tangelos
Grain Products
Whole grains are allowed on a low potassium diet
Allowed
NOT allowed:
- bran products
Milk & Alternatives
Limit intake to 1 cup/day of milk/yogurt
Allowed
NOT allowed:
Meat & Alternatives
Limit cooked meat to 60-90g per serving
Allowed
- Choose fresh meat instead of processed meat, when available
NOT allowed:
- processed meat products containing potassium additives (check label for all processed meat products)
Desserts & Sweets
Allowed
NOT allowed:
- desserts containing orange, chocolate, dried fruit or banana
Fluids
Allowed
- fluid milk limited to 125mL (1/2 cup) per day, served at breakfast
- water
- coffee (max 2 cups per day), tea (max 4 cups per day)
- juices: apple, cranberry (less than 1 cup per day)
NOT allowed:
Juices:
- carrot
- orange
- papaya
- passionfruit
- pomegranate
- prune
- tangerine
- tomato
- vegetable (V8)
- chocolate milk
Potassium Additives
Allowed
Check the ingredient list of packaged foods for the following additives:
*Pay special attention to “low salt” or “no salt added” foods, as potassium chloride is often added to these products.
NOT allowed:
- potassium chloride
- potassium sorbate
- potassium bicarbonate
- potassium hydroxide
- potassium citrate
- potassium carbonate
- potassium phosphate
- potassium lactate
- potassium tartrate
- potassium gluconate
- potassium iodide
*This may not be a complete list of potassium additives
General Comments
- Not all potassium is equally absorbed. The potassium in whole plant foods is bound to fiber, making it less absorbable.
- Potassium additives in processed foods and some low-sodium foods are readily absorbed and should be avoided. By limiting processed foods, this diet is considered to be lower in sodium.
- Cooking methods affect nutrient composition. See the cooking methods for potatoes, beans/lentils, and root vegetables below.
- There is a preference for fresh fruit instead of juice.
- Fruits and vegetables listed as non-compliant will be allowed if combined with compliant vegetables and/or are not the primary ingredient
- Some foods containing potassium additives may be included to improve variety and intake.
Cooking Methods to Reduce Potassium
Double Boiling of Potatoes and Root Vegetables
Peel potatoes or root vegetables; cut in small pieces. Fill a pot with water and add vegetables. Bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes. Drain, add fresh water and return to a boil. Once fully cooked, drain and discard water.
Boil and Soak Dried Legumes (Dried Peas, Beans, Lentils)
To a large pot add 1.5L or 6 cups of water for each 125 ml or ½ cup of legumes. Soak the legumes for 12 hours. Drain and rinse the legumes. Boil in fresh water until cooked.
Boil and Soak Potatoes
Peel potatoes, cut in small pieces. Boil 8 minutes and drain. In a large container, cover boiled potatoes in water and soak for 12 hours. Drain and use as desired.
Soaking Frozen French Fries
Cover frozen French fries with water (1.5L or 6 cups) and soak for 6-12 hours. Drain and dry the fries. Cook according to package directions
Regular Diet with:
- Limit foods known to contain added phosphorus (see list on pg. 2). Any time a packaged food is used, check the ingredient list for phosphate additives. If there is a better alternative available, use that. Otherwise, we may include non-compliant foods to allow for greater variety and improved patient satisfaction.
- Do not fortify or serve items with skim milk powder.