Do you get enough Potassium?
luvmakidz
Posts: 26 Member
I have been tracking here for a few weeks and notice that I really never come close to getting enough potassium. I think I eat a pretty healthy and well rounded diet. How are the rest of you doing with your potassium? If you are getting enough, what foods do you eat that are high in potassium?
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A lot of labeling doesn't include potassium values, which is frustrating. I've taken to looking up items on separate nutrition databases for some things, and inputting "usda" in the MFP database to get potassium values included in the data. Once the values are entered, you'll be more relieved about the matter than you are right now.
Some food I like high in potassium: banana, sweet potato, spinach, avocado, salmon.5 -
I have no medical reason to track potassium, so I don't. I'm anemic, so I look at iron, although I mostly get iron from supplements. Fiber helps me with satiety, so I track that.0
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The database is incomplete. You have to REALLY search for complete entries in terms of potassium5
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I don't track it, but for fun just looked at my reports and according to that I do not by far. Not worried a lot of the db entries on food lacks a lot of nutrient data in this aspect.2
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How am i doing with my potassium??
I have absolutely no idea. No reason to worry about it, So I don't.4 -
I don't track it. And like others have said, MFP entries are user created and often lacking in a lot of the areas (potassium, iron, fiber, etc.). Unless you have a medical reason to monitor your potassium I wouldn't bother.1
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mywayroche wrote: »The database is incomplete. You have to REALLY search for complete entries in terms of potassium
Even then, not every company reports potassium3 -
Kiwi fruit1
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I only worry about it when my calves start cramping a lot. And then I take a supplement.4
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I eat a banana every day so I feel like I'm good there but who knows...?3
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Potassium isn't required on food labels, which makes me feel better about the fact I pay no attention to it. I tend to eat a pretty wide variety of foods anyway. I don't think it's cause for concern, unless you have blood work that shows otherwise.2
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Calliope610 wrote: »
How could I forget coffee!!!!??? Unfortunately, I don't like mushrooms. Maybe one day...1 -
I have no idea but I eat a banana every day, so I think so?1
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I don't track it but I pulled my report and it looks like most days I'm close to it and sometimes I'm way over so I think it balances out. Looks like I get it from broccoli, squash, potatoes, bananas, navy beans, and lentils.
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Truthfully, I don't much worry about micros. I've spot checked myself occasionally as a reference point, and know some that it's useful for me to supplement (example: Vit D, as someone who lives in the North, is aging, and has osteopenia that was probably prescription drug related). I routinely eat a minimum of 5 servings of varied, colorful fruits and vegetables daily; usually at least 10 servings; and sometimes upwards of 20. This is better, micronutrient-wise, than most humans through history have had the good fortune to be able to do. So why worry? Worrying isn't fun. I like fun better.3
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Most people who eat a variety of veggies seem to do okay with potassium. Fruit is awesome too, but one banana a day won't cut it, as the average banana only has 250-400 mg...so you'd have to to eat like 11 or 12 large to meet that. Many people don't have to worry about potassium at all, unless you have a medical condition. I watch my potassium because I've had high blood pressure since I was 19. Potassium is the inverse of sodium and helps regulate healthy blood pressure at a ratio of approx 3/1.3
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I don't track it. And like others have said, MFP entries are user created and often lacking in a lot of the areas (potassium, iron, fiber, etc.). Unless you have a medical reason to monitor your potassium I wouldn't bother.
It's not always (or even the majority of the time) users' fault, given that nutrition labels aren't currently required to show potassium levels, at least in the U.S. If the information isn't provided on the label, you can't fault the users for not including it in the database entries.5 -
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I have kidney disease and my body doesn't process potassium well. That and the medicines I take usually keep mine pretty high. I am on a low potassium diet but I've been told to avoid specifically:
Potatoes
Oranges, orange juice
Avocado
Banana
Anything you have to peel, as my dr. says
I eat avocados, but I no longer eat potatoes or oranges or juice2 -
It WAS: that effective July 26, 2018 the FDA required a new nutrition label on foods from manufacturers with sales over $10M. This new label is to include potassium.
Then in June of 2017 the FDA extended the date and has yet to state a new date for potassium (and other changes) to be required.
Some companies have already implemented the changeover on some products. All have not. Label readers have noticed the difference. In particular, calories per serving is in larger, bolder print.1 -
I am on a diuretic which lowers my potassium as well as kidney issues, so I track my potassium. If I am low I can tell - I get muscle cramps in weird places (like my jaw if I yawn!) and heart palpitations.
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I have started to take supplements due to suffering with restless leg syndrome which keeps me awake every night and read that can be caused by low potassium and B1. Partly due also I believe to the amount of running I do I'm not getting what I need. One banana a day not cutting it, I also eat lots of veg so believe I need some extra help. Since taking one week ago leg cramps have got better. Never really thought how Potassium can affect you, it supports your nervous system and muscles.2
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The US has again delayed the ruling that Nutrition Facts labels include potassium. Even nationwide chain restaurants that do list nutrition data often don't have potassium listings. A recent ruling seems to be requiring restaurants to list nutrition, but until we see it I won't know what they list.2
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Avocados are super high in potassium. Also, cream of tartar, find it in the spices section of the grocery store. Extremely high in potassium. I add a 1/4 tsp to water almost every day.1
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In MFP, the USDA entries usually give potassium. In cases where I can't find accurate potassium listings in MFP, I Google the ingredient till I find what I need, then enter the missing potassium as "Potassium Pill", and the amount calculated. I'm lucky in liking lots of potassium-rich foods, so the numbers mount up nicely.1
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