Good Potassium Sources?

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Replies

  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    Oh, I tried coconut water once. Ewww.
  • charliemay2
    charliemay2 Posts: 3
    fresh spinach mixed with romaine in your tossed salad is working for me. Add some cucumber slices, shredded carrots, and diced celery. low cal and satisfying
  • sth2675
    sth2675 Posts: 1
    Keep in mind that certain birth control pills can elevate potassium levels.
  • xraygeek
    xraygeek Posts: 34 Member
    Yogurt, coffee, and dried apricots are where I'm getting my sources of potassium from. I also go off this web page for a quick, easy source: http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/food/potassium-foods.htm

    Also, in response to the water--how you're only supposed to drink when you're thirsty--that is wrong. If your body is telling you that you're thirsty, you are dehydrated. Not dehydrated to the point of danger, but it is smart to drink 64 ounces of water a day, minimum. There is such a thing as over drinking water too.
  • Helenatrandom
    Helenatrandom Posts: 1,166 Member
    Tropicana 50
    Potatoes
    pistachios
    salmon
    milk
    paprika has 164 mg per tablespoon! YUM! (Only if you mix it in something. I'm NOT recommending that you swallow a tablespoon of paprika!)
  • fluffy925
    fluffy925 Posts: 93 Member
    Seaweed! truly
  • Soapstone
    Soapstone Posts: 134 Member
    My low, low, low potassium levels have been one of the biggest surprises for me since I started MFP. Spinach is high in potassium (167 mg per cup), but even higher if you boil or saute it until wilted (839 mg). I have this tossed with sun dried tomatoes, artichokes, garlic, olive oil, and whole wheat pasta sometimes- GREAT meal for me. You can also saute it and then scramble in some eggs. I eat 1-2 cups of spinach at a sitting this way to boost my potassium levels. I've read that beet greens are an even better source, but I haven't tried it yet.
    Spinach is also really, really high in so many vitamins and minerals that I try to eat it every day anyway.

    http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2627/2
  • wftiger
    wftiger Posts: 1,283 Member
    Be careful of supplements. The max mg per capsule is regulated because of the issues having too much potassium can cause. I suppose they don't want someone taking too much so the put the limit on them. Get yours from a natural source it is much safer. Also, if you are on any medications ask your pharmacist or physician before taking any as many will react with potassium supplements.

    Here is a site with the top 59. Note that bananas are not even in the top 30. http://www.highbloodpressureinfo.org/foods-with-potassium.html
  • Lily_1
    Lily_1 Posts: 38
    Almond, Yogurt are good sources.
  • gregpack
    gregpack Posts: 426 Member
    In the Summer I add Morton salt substitute ( KCL) to my water. It is calorie free. It does give the water a slight salty taste, but it's not bad at all. I can't stand the stuff on my food though.
  • agentscully514
    agentscully514 Posts: 616 Member
    Also, in response to the water--how you're only supposed to drink when you're thirsty--that is wrong. If your body is telling you that you're thirsty, you are dehydrated. Not dehydrated to the point of danger, but it is smart to drink 64 ounces of water a day, minimum. There is such a thing as over drinking water too.

    I have to disagree. Water is the #2 most important thing your body needs in order to live. Oxygen is #1. The others are sleep and food. Your body is VERY smart about telling you when it needs those things. why would your body be bad at telling you when it needs water? It's not. Thirst is an excellent indicator.

    Remember that if you drink gallons of water, you are losing electrolytes. So you will have to replenish the potassium and sodium.
  • xraygeek
    xraygeek Posts: 34 Member
    Grapes are also a good source of potassium!

    In response to agentscully51: True, the body is smart. For example, the human body can get hydration from fruits and veggies that you eat--up to 20% of your water. However, especially since we are all basically working out pretty hard to loose weight (thus sweating), and some of us live in pretty humid or hot environmental conditions (more sweating), we need to adjust for it--thus drinking more water or eating more fruits and veggies with high water content. But like you said, your body is smart. It knows when to keep electrolytes. Yes, you loose some electrolytes, but its a very minimal amount.

    Thirst is an indicator that something is wrong, that there is already an imbalance of electrolytes and your body needs water to balance out the salts. Drinking water when your body is not screaming "I'm thirsty!" is like maintaining your car on a regular basis. You don't take your car in while it's smoking, you take it in every 3000 miles to get the oil changed. Drinking an extra 12-16 ounces of water when you're not thirsty isn't going to hurt you at all. I'm not saying to sit and drink gallons of water. To put it bluntly, if you are well hydrated, your pee will be colorless or a very light yellow, unless you're taking supplements or vitamins which are known to color urine.
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