Skip to main content
  1. Careers
  2. Resource Center
  3. About Us
  4. Contact Us
  5. Español
Thrive On
Fresenius Kidney Care
  • PatientHub
  • Community

Find a Dialysis Center

Find a Dialysis Center

Find a Dialysis Center
Permission to detect location was denied Current location could not be determined
    Try a detailed search

    Need help? Call 1-888-373-1470

    1. About Kidney Disease
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
      3. Kidney Disease Stages
      4. What Is a Nephrologist?
      5. What to Expect with CKD
      6. Kidney Disease Management
      7. Understanding Acute Kidney Injury
      8. How Kidneys Work
      9. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
    2. Treatments
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Dialysis Basics
      3. Benefits of Home Dialysis
      4. Home Peritoneal Dialysis
      5. Home Hemodialysis
      6. Sign up to Talk to a Home Dialysis Expert
      7. In-Center Hemodialysis
      8. Transplant
      9. Insurance & Managing Costs
      10. Choosing Not to Treat
    3. Life On Dialysis
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Your Emotional Health While on Dialysis
      3. Staying Engaged
      4. Staying Healthy
      5. Dialysis Travel Services and Information
      6. Tips for Loved Ones
      7. PatientHub
    4. Recipes & Nutrition
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Recipes
      3. Managing Your Diet
      4. Fluid Management on Dialysis
      5. Dialysis Diet Planning
      6. Cookbooks
    5. Thrive Central
      1. CKD
      2. Dialysis
      3. Diet & Nutrition
      4. Stories
      5. Wellness
      6. See All
    COMMUNITY
    PATIENTHUB
    HOME
    1. I Have Kidney Disease
    2. I’m Preparing For Dialysis
    3. I’m on Dialysis
    1. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
    2. Resource Center
    3. Recipes
    4. Request Patient Travel Services Information
    5. Sign Up for Our Newsletter

    Find a Dialysis Center

    Find a Dialysis Center

    Find a Dialysis Center
    Permission to detect location was denied Current location could not be determined
      Try a detailed search

      Need help? Call 1-888-373-1470

      1. About Us
      2. Contact Us
      3. FAQ
      4. Glossary
      5. Media
      6. Careers
      7. Español

      Need help? Call
      1-888-373-1470

      • facebook
      • twitter
      • youtube
      1. About Kidney Disease
        1. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
          1. Symptoms
          2. Risk Factors
          3. Causes
          4. Diagnosis and Testing
          5. GFR Calculator
        2. Kidney Disease Stages
          1. Stage 1
          2. Stage 2
          3. Stage 3
          4. Stage 4
          5. Stage 5
        3. What Is a Nephrologist?
        4. What to Expect with CKD
        5. Kidney Disease Management
          1. Kidney Diet Basics
          2. CKD Medications
          3. Your Kidney Care Team
          4. Diabetes
          5. High Blood Pressure
        6. Understanding Acute Kidney Injury
          1. Acute Kidney Injury Treatment and Recovery
        7. How Kidneys Work
        8. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
      2. Treatments
        1. Dialysis Basics
          1. How Does a Hemodialysis Machine Work
          2. Starting Dialysis
          3. Types of Dialysis Access
          4. Your Care Plan
          5. Dialysis Medications
          6. Monitoring Your Lab Results
        2. Benefits of Home Dialysis
        3. Home Peritoneal Dialysis
          1. What to Expect
          2. Getting Prepared
          3. PD Access
          4. PD Training
          5. PD Monitoring
          6. Your Care Team
        4. Home Hemodialysis
          1. What to Expect
          2. Getting Prepared
          3. HD Training
          4. HD Monitoring
          5. Your Care Team
        5. Sign up to Talk to a Home Dialysis Expert
        6. In-Center Hemodialysis
          1. In-Center Treatment Options
          2. What to Expect
          3. Types of Vascular Access for Hemodialysis
          4. Your Care Team
          5. How to Choose a Center
        7. Transplant
          1. Finding a Kidney Donor
          2. Considering Kidney Donation
        8. Insurance & Managing Costs
          1. Understanding Medicare Coverage
          2. Understanding Medicare Advantage
          3. Understanding Employer Plans
        9. Choosing Not to Treat
      3. Life On Dialysis
        1. Your Emotional Health While on Dialysis
          1. Managing Your Emotions
          2. Talking About Dialysis
          3. Intimacy
          4. Body Image and Dialysis
          5. Building Your Dialysis Support Network
        2. Staying Engaged
          1. Tips for Working While on Dialysis
          2. In-Center Activities
          3. Hobbies
        3. Staying Healthy
          1. Managing Your Time on Dialysis
          2. Dialysis & Exercise
          3. Weight Management
          4. Avoiding Infection
          5. Managing Multiple Conditions
          6. Fighting the Flu
        4. Dialysis Travel Services and Information
        5. Tips for Loved Ones
          1. In-Center Hemodialysis
          2. At-Home Hemodialysis
          3. At-Home Peritoneal Dialysis
        6. PatientHub
      4. Recipes & Nutrition
        1. Recipes
        2. Managing Your Diet
          1. Eating Well on a CKD Diet
          2. Eating Well on a Dialysis Diet
          3. Salt and Kidney Disease
          4. Potassium and Kidney Disease
          5. Phosphorus and Kidney Disease
          6. Talking With Your Dietitian
        3. Fluid Management on Dialysis
        4. Dialysis Diet Planning
          1. Kidney-Friendly Shopping
          2. Eating Out
          3. Holiday Diet Tips
          4. A Chef’s Advice | Chef Aaron McCargo on Kidney Friendly Meals
        5. Cookbooks
      5. Thrive Central
        1. CKD
        2. Dialysis
        3. Diet & Nutrition
        4. Stories
        5. Wellness
        6. See All
      1. Home
      2. Thrive Central
      3. Diet & Nutrition
      4. Nutrition Basics: What Is Potassium?
      Share:

      Nutrition Basics: What Is Potassium?

      Potassium_MainIcon
      Potassium is an important mineral found naturally in many foods. What does potassium do for the body? It helps keep your heartbeat regular and your muscles and nerves working well. When you’re living with CKD, kidneys have trouble keeping your potassium level balanced, which could put your health at risk.

      Too much OR too little potassium could cause:

      • Tingling and numbness in your toes and fingers
      • Muscle weakness, cramping, fatigue
      • Nausea and/or vomiting
      • Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
      WhatToRemember_Icon

      WHAT TO REMEMBER:

      Moderate your potassium—avoid too little or too much.

      How much potassium per day is right for me?

      A healthy range for your potassium level is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L if you’re living with a CKD and 3.5-5.5 mEq/L if you have ESRD. If your potassium level is too high or too low, your care team can help you choose the best fruits and vegetables in the right amount to maintain a healthy potassium balance. Some example are listed below.

      LOW POTASSIUM FOODS INCLUDE:

      • Apple
      • Blueberries
      • Strawberries
      • Raspberries
      • Cherries
      • Grapes
      • Pear
      • Pineapple
      • Tangerines
      • Plums
      • Cabbage
      • Carrots
      • Broccoli
      • Green Beans
      • Cucumbers
      • Eggplant
      • Lettuce
      • Greens
      • Okra
      • Peppers
      • Radish
      • Yellow Squash
      • Turnips
      • Water Chestnuts
      LEARN MORE ABOUT LOW POTASSIUM FOODS HERE

      HIGH POTASSIUM FOODS INCLUDE:

      • White Potatoes
      • Sweet Potatoes
      • Tomato products
      • Avocados
      • Spinach
      • Orange juice
      • Bananas
      • Fresh melons
      • Raisins
      • Dried apricots
      • Beets
      • Apricots
      • Nectarines
      • Papaya
      • Salt substitutes*

      *Salt substitutes contain potassium chloride and therefore are high in potassium.
      LEARN MORE ABOUT HIGH POTASSIUM FOODS HERE

      What causes high potassium?

      Healthy kidneys help regulate potassium levels. In early stage CKD, your potassium level may stay normal. In later-stage CKD, as kidneys lose function, your potassium level may get too high—or too low. If your potassium level is too high, work with your dietitian and your care team to get it back into your target potassium range. It’s important to address a high potassium level immediately, since it puts your health at serious risk. 

      Find out how to lower potassium levels

      Here are some tips for lowering potassium in your diet:

      • Try salt-free and potassium-free herbs and spices—avoid “salt substitutes” that contain potassium chloride.
      • Check ingredient lists for added potassium—especially in processed foods labeled “low sodium” or “reduced sodium.”
      • If you’re on dialysis, complete all of your treatments exactly as prescribed—to help maintain the target potassium level.
      • Talk to your care team if you have any digestive issues, high blood sugar or are taking any herbal and/or vitamin supplements—these may affect your potassium level.
      Seasoned diced potatoes

      TRY THIS SIMPLE METHOD FOR LOWERING POTASSIUM IN POTATOES

      Double-boiling potatoes—white or sweet (yams)—removes some potassium for a delicious, healthier side dish. Peel potatoes, then slice or dice into small pieces. Place potatoes in a pot with large amount of water and bring to a boil. Drain, refill with a large amount of fresh water and boil potatoes a second time until soft and tender.

      Explore kidney friendly recipes

      COOK YOUR OWN KIDNEY-FRIENDLY MEALS

      When you cook for yourself, you can take charge of your own phosphorus, sodium, and more. For more help crafting your own kidney-friendly diet, check out our recipes!
      EXPLORE RECIPES

      Suggested topics


      Phosphorus_Main_icon

      Nutrition Basics: What is Phosphorus?

      Phosphorus is a mineral found in many foods. It works with calcium to build strong, healthy bones. When your kidneys can...

      Read more
      Albumin_Main_Icon

      Nutrition Basics: What is Albumin?

      Albumin is a type of protein made by your liver that helps keep fluid in your blood stream and helps carry vitamins and nutrients...

      Read More
      EatDrink_ICON1

      What to Eat and Drink on Peritoneal Dialysis

      Choosing home peritoneal dialysis (PD) for treatment at stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) can give you greater flexibility lifestyle in...

      Read More
      Back to Top
      1. About Us
      2. Español
      1. FAQ
      2. Resource Center
      3. Contact Us
      4. Glossary
      5. Media
      6. Careers
      1. Website Privacy Policy
      2. Terms of Use
      3. Site Map
      4. HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
      5. FreseniusKidneyCare.com Web Accessibility Statement
      6. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Data
      7. Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information
      • facebook
      • youtube
      • twitter
      • pinterest
      © 2016-2022 Fresenius Medical Care. All Rights Reserved.