HomeHealth TopicsFood NutritionPotassium
Back to Food Nutrition
Potassium
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Food Nutrition

Potassium

Potassium is a vital electrolyte that supports nerve function, muscle contraction, and heart health while helping to regulate blood pressure.

Overview

Potassium is a mineral that your body needs to work properly. It is a type of electrolyte. It helps your nerves to function and muscles to contract. It helps your heartbeat stay regular. It also helps move nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells. A diet rich in potassium helps to offset some of sodium's harmful effects on blood pressure.

Dietary Sources

Many people get all the potassium they need from what they eat and drink. Sources of potassium in the diet include:

  • Leafy greens, such as spinach and collards
  • Fruit from vines, such as grapes and blackberries
  • Root vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes
  • Citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit

Management and Health Considerations

Your kidneys help to keep the right amount of potassium in your body. If you have chronic kidney disease, your kidneys may not remove extra potassium from the blood. Some medicines also can raise your potassium level. You may need a special diet to lower the amount of potassium that you eat.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can still eat a healthy diet by choosing lower-potassium fruits and vegetables. Good fruit options include apples, berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries), and melons. For vegetables, try green beans, cabbage, cauliflower, and cucumbers. When eating higher-potassium vegetables like potatoes or tomatoes, try cooking them in large amounts of water and discarding the liquid, which can remove a significant portion of the potassium. Reading food labels is also helpful, as some processed foods and salt substitutes contain added potassium.
Yes, several common medications can increase potassium levels, particularly if you have kidney issues. These include ACE inhibitors (such as lisinopril), ARBs (such as losartan), potassium-sparing diuretics (such as spironolactone or eplerenone), and NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen). If you are taking any of these, your doctor will likely monitor your potassium levels regularly through blood tests. Never stop or change your medication dosage without consulting your healthcare provider, as these drugs are often critical for managing blood pressure and heart health.
High potassium, or hyperkalemia, can be dangerous because it affects heart rhythm. Symptoms may include muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, nausea, or a feeling of palpitations or an irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, it can lead to cardiac arrest. If you have kidney disease or take medications that affect potassium and experience sudden weakness, chest pain, or an irregular pulse, seek emergency medical attention immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to resolve on their own.
Healthy kidneys filter excess potassium from the blood, but in chronic kidney disease, this function is impaired, leading to a buildup of potassium in the body. Patients with advanced kidney disease often need to restrict high-podium foods. This may involve limiting or avoiding bananas, oranges, potatoes, tomatoes, and spinach. Cooking methods also matter; leaching potassium from vegetables by boiling them and discarding the water can reduce their potassium content. Always follow the specific dietary guidelines provided by your nephrologist or renal dietitian.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

kontakt@hittavard.se

Ⓒ 2024. Alla rättigheter förbehålls av juxt ab

Sök
Om ossVillkor och policyVanliga frågorKontakta oss