Potassium shortage

inherentst0rm
inherentst0rm Posts: 84 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
So, somehow I have managed to not even eat a single gram of potassium this entire weekend. I am baffled that I haven't even accidentally ingested some over the past 3 days.

So my question is, other than bananas what are some potassium rich foods everyone incorporates in their meal prep to make sure they are getting enough?

Replies

  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    First of all, Potassium was not required on labels until 2016 so you rarely see it in the database and in your diary.

    To actually answer your question, some of my favorite potassium rich foods are pomegranates, broccoli. spinach, potatoes (with the skin), cantaloupe, raisins, and Cornish hens.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    As said above, you can't go by the database entries. You undoubtedly have gotten some.
  • inherentst0rm
    inherentst0rm Posts: 84 Member
    Oh! Then I do have potassium pretty regular then. Brocolli is a huge staple in my diet.....I didn't realize it was rarely on labels...Thank you!

  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    inherentst0rm wrote: »
    Oh! Then I do have potassium pretty regular then. Brocolli is a huge staple in my diet.....I didn't realize it was rarely on labels...Thank you!

    Many nutrients in broccoli and spinach (like potassium) are more bioavailable if cooked, so eating both raw and cooked is a good way to make sure you are gaining the benefit.
  • inherentst0rm
    inherentst0rm Posts: 84 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »
    inherentst0rm wrote: »
    Oh! Then I do have potassium pretty regular then. Brocolli is a huge staple in my diet.....I didn't realize it was rarely on labels...Thank you!

    Many nutrients in broccoli and spinach (like potassium) are more bioavailable if cooked, so eating both raw and cooked is a good way to make sure you are gaining the benefit.

    Thanks for the reply, that's good to know!
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    inherentst0rm wrote: »
    earlnabby wrote: »
    inherentst0rm wrote: »
    Oh! Then I do have potassium pretty regular then. Brocolli is a huge staple in my diet.....I didn't realize it was rarely on labels...Thank you!

    Many nutrients in broccoli and spinach (like potassium) are more bioavailable if cooked, so eating both raw and cooked is a good way to make sure you are gaining the benefit.

    Thanks for the reply, that's good to know!

    Tomatoes, carrots, and mushrooms are other foods that are more bioavailable cooked. Depending on the cooking method, some water soluble vitamins can be lost so eating both raw and cooked is a great way to get everything.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,106 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »
    First of all, Potassium was not required on labels until 2016 so you rarely see it in the database and in your diary.

    To actually answer your question, some of my favorite potassium rich foods are pomegranates, broccoli. spinach, potatoes (with the skin), cantaloupe, raisins, and Cornish hens.

    Actually, if you're talking about the U.S., I believe the current administration postponed indefinitely the effective date of the regulation requiring potassium to be displayed on labels, so it's still not required.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    earlnabby wrote: »
    First of all, Potassium was not required on labels until 2016 so you rarely see it in the database and in your diary.

    To actually answer your question, some of my favorite potassium rich foods are pomegranates, broccoli. spinach, potatoes (with the skin), cantaloupe, raisins, and Cornish hens.

    Actually, if you're talking about the U.S., I believe the current administration postponed indefinitely the effective date of the regulation requiring potassium to be displayed on labels, so it's still not required.

    Thanks for the clarification.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,106 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    earlnabby wrote: »
    First of all, Potassium was not required on labels until 2016 so you rarely see it in the database and in your diary.

    To actually answer your question, some of my favorite potassium rich foods are pomegranates, broccoli. spinach, potatoes (with the skin), cantaloupe, raisins, and Cornish hens.

    Actually, if you're talking about the U.S., I believe the current administration postponed indefinitely the effective date of the regulation requiring potassium to be displayed on labels, so it's still not required.

    Thanks for the clarification.

    You're welcome. Thanks for taking it in the spirit it was intended.

    I have seen some manufacturers are making the change to the new label format, so we must be in some situation where either the old or the new label format is acceptable, or maybe they finally set a new effective date, and we're in a transition period. I find the FDA website not very user-friendly, so I'm reluctant to dive into it to try to find out what the current status is. :smile:
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    earlnabby wrote: »
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    earlnabby wrote: »
    First of all, Potassium was not required on labels until 2016 so you rarely see it in the database and in your diary.

    To actually answer your question, some of my favorite potassium rich foods are pomegranates, broccoli. spinach, potatoes (with the skin), cantaloupe, raisins, and Cornish hens.

    Actually, if you're talking about the U.S., I believe the current administration postponed indefinitely the effective date of the regulation requiring potassium to be displayed on labels, so it's still not required.

    Thanks for the clarification.

    You're welcome. Thanks for taking it in the spirit it was intended.

    I have seen some manufacturers are making the change to the new label format, so we must be in some situation where either the old or the new label format is acceptable, or maybe they finally set a new effective date, and we're in a transition period. I find the FDA website not very user-friendly, so I'm reluctant to dive into it to try to find out what the current status is. :smile:

    I knew it was going to be required and put any further action (or lack of action) out of my mind. I am on a prescription supplement due to chronic low potassium (3 metabolic panels in a row) so it is something I don't really think about any more.

    I am guessing that the foods you are seeing with potassium on the label are either 1) Getting ahead of the game so they are already using it when it becomes required or 2) Their foods can be exported to countries who do require it.
  • joisfit
    joisfit Posts: 9 Member
    I find my daily potassium intake falls short every day according to what is calculated by MyFitnessPal. So I'm hoping that I'm consuming quite a bit that isn't being accounted for. A year ago my potassium levels were fine. I'm going to ask for a full panel blood draw again this time since I've been consuming less food for the past three months. On the positive side, I've lost 24 pounds in 84 days.
  • VUA21
    VUA21 Posts: 2,072 Member
    My potassium is always low on MFP. My blood work is always normal. A lot of foods don't list potassium, so it's hard to know if you're getting enough without routine physicals that include blood work.

    Also, here's the symptoms for hypokalemia (low potassium):
    Low Potassium Symptoms
    1. Weakness, tiredness, or cramping in arm or leg muscles, sometimes severe enough to cause inability to move arms or legs due to weakness (much like a paralysis)
    2. Tingling or numbness.
    3. Nausea or vomiting.
    4. Abdominal cramping, bloating.
    Constipation.
    5. Palpitations (feeling your heart beat irregularly)

    So if you're not suffering the above symptoms, you should be fine.
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