40 Low Potassium Fruits and Vegetables to Add to Your Grocery List

July 22, 2022

40%-50%of people with kidney disease experience hyperkalemia or high potassium. A healthcare professional or dietitian will advise you as to the specific level of restriction you need based on your individual health.


While fruits and vegetables contain potassium, people following a potassium-restricted diet can still enjoy a wide array of colorful, delicious, and versatile options. 

Here are 40 low potassium fruits and vegetables you can add to your grocery cart. Maybe not all at once…but we’ll leave that decision up to you.

Jump to the fruit or vegetable list.

What is potassium?

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Potassium is an essential nutrient that helps the body function properly. It helps your nerves, muscles, and heart work the right way. However, people with kidney disease can experience dangerous levels of potassium, called hyperkalemia, if they consume too much because the kidneys aren’t able to remove the excess. Hyperkalemia is a serious health condition that can cause irregular heartbeat or a heart attack. A simple blood test and your kidney disease stage will determine whether your potassium levels are too high.

Diet is your first line of defense

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It’s important to have the right amount of potassium in your diet- too little can also cause problems! Ask your doctor what your potassium levels should be, and use a dietitian to help you plan your diet properly. 

Find a kidney dietician near you.

And remember, 

  • Serving size matters. A large serving of low-potassium food can turn into a high-potassium food.
  • Aim for 2-3 servings of low potassium fruits each day.
  • You can leach potassium from vegetables before cooking. Leaching is a process by which some potassium can be pulled out of the vegetable. Learn how to leach vegetables.

Low-potassium fruits

FruitServing size
Apple1 medium
Applesauce ½ cup
Apricots, canned in juice ½ cup (drain liquid first)
Blackberries½ cup
Blueberries½ cup
Cherries½ cup
Cranberries½ cup
Fruit cocktail ½ cup (drain liquid first)
Grapes or grape juice½ cup
Grapefruit½ whole
Mandarin oranges½ cup
Peaches1 small fresh or ½ cup canned
Pears1 small fresh or ½ cup canned
Pineapple½ cup
Pineapple juice4 ounces
Plums1 whole
Raspberries½ cup
Strawberries½ cup
Tangerines1 whole
WatermelonLimit to one cup

Low-potassium vegetables

VegetableServing size
Alfalfa sprouts½ cup
Asparagus6 spears
Beans, green or wax½ cup
Broccoli (raw or cooked from frozen)½ cup
Green cabbage½ cup
Red cabbage½ cup
Carrots, cooked½ cup
Cauliflower½ cup
Celery1 stalk
Cucumber½ cup
Eggplant½ cup
Kale½ cup
White mushrooms, raw½ cup
Onions½ cup
Peas, green½ cup
Peppers½ cup
Yellow squash½ cup
Zucchini squash½ cup
Radish½ cup
Water chestnuts, canned½ cup

 

Learn more about high potassium and nutrition

Time to get creative in the kitchen

Now that you know what to shop for, turn your ingredients into masterpieces. Kidney-friendly meals and snacks don’t need to be bland to work for you and your diet.

Here are over 30 flavorful low-potassium recipes to try.