How much potassium is in the food I eat?

Why is a potassium restriction needed?

You have been advised to restrict the potassium in your diet as you have increased levels of potassium in your blood. 
High blood potassium levels can be dangerous and can be harmful to the heart.
The foods are colour coded as traffic lights.  This system indicates the amount of potassium in the foods you eat.

Foods lower in potassium: can have daily (green)

Foods moderate in potassium: have twice a week (orange)

Foods highest in pottasium: have once a week (red)

The main principles of a low potassium diet:

· Encourage fruit and vegetables but limit to 2 servings of each a day (try to pick from the green section).

· Boil all vegetables rather than using a steamer, microwave or pressure cooker and discard all vegetable water. Do not use the water  in soups or gravy.

· All potatoes must be peeled and cut into small pieces before cooking and boiled until cooked, throwing away the cooking water. 

· Limit milk to half a pint a day.

· Limit milk based desserts, eg. yoghurts/ice-cream/custards.

· Avoid salt substitutes because they contain potassium e.g. LoSalt, Ruthmol or Solo.

Vegetables

Less than 2.5 mmol - low
	Beansprouts  (60g)	0.7
	Cucumber (30g)	1.2
	Swede (boiled, 60g)	1.3
	Tomato sauce (20g)	1.4
	Onions (boiled) / pickled onions (60g)	1.6
	Chick peas (canned, 60g)	1.7
	Gherkins (4 pickled, 60g)	1.7
	Marrow (60g)	1.7
	Pesto (green, 40g – 1/4 jar )	1.8
	Green pepper (60g)	1.8
	Runner beans (boiled, 60g)	2.0
	Frozen mixed veg (boiled, 60g)	2.0
	Onions (raw)/ leeks (boiled, 60g)	2.3
	Spring greens (boiled, 60g)	2.4
	Carrots (boiled, 60g)	2.5

2.5 - 4 mmol - moderate
	Cabbage (boiled, 60g)	2.6
	Peas (frozen/mushy, 60g)	2.7
	Green beans (60g)	2.7
	Houmous (60g)	2.9

	Beetroot (pickled, 60g)	2.9
	Onions fried (60g)	2.9
	Broad beans (boiled, 60g)	3.0
	Broccoli/ courgette (boiled 60g)	3.2
	Cauliflower (boiled, 60g)	3.3
	Lettuce/sweetcorn (60g)	3.3
	Radishes (60g)	3.7
	Aubergine (fried, 90g)	3.9
	Spring onions (60g)	4.0

More than 4.0 mmol - high
	Tofu (steamed/fried, 90g)	4.1
	Asparagus (boiled, 3 spears, 75g)	4.2
	Squash (baked-60g)	4.2
	Brussel sprouts (boiled, 60g)	4.7
	Canned tomatoes (95g)/ tomatoes (90g)	5.1
	Spinach (baby, raw, 60g)	5.2
	Parsnips (boiled, 60g)	5.3
	Mushrooms (raw, 60g)	5.8
	Butter/kidney beans (canned, 60g)	6.2
	Sweet potato (boiled, 90g)	6.9
	Tomato puree (30g)	9.6

Fruit

Less than 2.5 mmol - low
	Mandarins (canned in juice)	1.6
	Raspberries 10 (40g)	1.7
	Clementines/satsumas (60g– one)	2.0
	Apple (small)	2.1
	Cherries 10 (40g)	2.2
	Grapefruit (120g, canned in juice)	2.2
	Pear (small)	2.3
	Blackberries 12 (60g)	2.5

2.5 - 4mmol - moderate
	Apricot (40g)	2.8
	Pineapple (1 slice, no skin - 80g)	3.2
	Plum (55g)	3.4
	Peach (canned in syrup -120g)	3.4
	Strawberries 5 (80g)	3.5
	Orange (medium)	3.5
	Grapes 10 (65g)	3.6
	Mango – small bowl (80g)	3.7
	Raisins/sultanas – small box (15g)	3.8
	Grapefruit (1/2) (80g)	4.0

More than 4.0 mmol -   high
	Kiwi (60g)	4.5
	Watermelon (200g)	5.1
	Nectarine/peach	5.7
	Honeydew melon (1 slice - 150g)	5.8
	Galia melon (1 slice - 150g)	5.8
	Rhubarb (fresh ,stewed no sugar) (100g)	5.9
	Figs (25g) (ready to eat)	6.2
	Canteloupe melon  (1 slice - 150g)	8.0
	Bananas (small)	8.5
	Avocado (½ - 75g)	8.6
	Dates (dried) (50g)	9.0

Meat and Fish

Less than 8mmol - low
	Bacon (1 rasher)	1.9
	Gammon slice– boiled (45g)	2.9
	Fish fingers x 2	3.5
	Beef (minced) stewed (100g)	4.2
	Beef stew (90g)	6.2
	Roast chicken (80g)	6.7
	Haddock in breadcrumbs	7.0
	Roast lamb (90g)	7.6

8-14 mmol - moderate
	Roast turkey (70g)	8.0
	Chicken nuggets (90g)	8.0
	Lamb chop (60g)	8.0
	Steak (rump 5oz)	9.2
	Vegetable chilli (170g )	10
	Salmon steak (100g)	10.5
	Lasagne (225g)	12.5
	Pork chop (120g)	13.1

More than 14 mmol - high
	Mackerel (160g)	16.0

Carbohydrates

Less than 5 mmol -   low
	Rice noodles (140g cooked)	0.1
	White long grain rice (100g cooked)	0.4
	White pasta (140g cooked)	1.4
	Egg noodles (90g cooked)	1.5
	Brown rice (100g cooked)	2.5
	Couscous (140g cooked)	4.3

5-10 mmol - moderate
	Potato croquettes x 3	6.0
	Mashed potato (120g)	10

More than 10 mmol - high
	Potato waffles x 2	10.8
	New potatoes x 4 (130g) also fried to make chips.	12.5
	Oven chips (100g)	16.3
	Jacket potato (medium) no skin (160g)	14.7
	Roast potatoes x 4	14.5
	Chips frozen and fried (100g)	18.4
	Jacket potato (medium) with skin (160g)	24.5

Dairy

Milk is an important source of calcium in your child’s diet however it is high in potassium. Total milk intake should be limited to 300ml/day

Less than 1 mmol - low
	Double cream (tablespoon 30g)	0.5
	Single cream (tablespoon 15g)	0.5

1 - 4 mmol - moderate
	Crème fraiche (60g)	1.2
	Petit filous (60g)	2.7
	Soya yoghurt (120g)	2.8
	Custard (120ml)	4.0
	Yoghurt (fruit) per 100g	4.3
	Yoghurt (plain) per 100g	4.3
	Rice pudding (140g)	4.6

More than 5 mmol - high
	Ice cream (120g)	5.0
	Condensed milk	9.2
	Evaporated milk per 100ml	12

Drinks

Less than 1.5 mmol - low
	Squash/cordial  (200ml) (less than 10% fruit juice from concentrate)	0.3
	Ovaltine (23g)  with water	0.9
	Lemonade (330ml)	1.3
	Tea (200ml) black	1.4

1.5-3 mmol - moderate
	Coffee (2g) instant black	1.9
	Pineapple juice (150ml)	2.0
	Grape juice (150ml)	2.1
	Drinking chocolate (18g - with water)	2.3
	Fanta/Tango (330ml)	2.3

More than 3 mmol - high
	Apple juice (150ml)	3.4
	Fresh orange juice (150ml)	6.3
	Tomato juice (160ml)	9.4
	Milkshake - take away (250ml)	10.9
	Horlicks made with milk (200ml)	10.9

Snacks

Less than 1 mmol - low
	Jelly made with water	0.10
	Prawn crackers (30g)	0.10
	Jam tart (34g)	0.60
	Ginger nut biscuit x 2	0.70
	Treacle tart  (slice)	0.80
	Jaffa cake x 2	0.9
	Jam swiss roll (30g slice)	1.0
	Plain digestive biscuit x 2	1.6

1-3 mmol - moderate
	Lemon meringue pie x 1 slice	1.4
	Sweet pancakes (crepe 43g)	1.9
	Iced madeira/lemon drizzle (40g)	2.0
	Iced bun	2.1
	Apple pie (100g)	2.2
	Jam doughnuts (75g)	2.2
	Tortilla chips (30g)	2.2
	Chocolate éclair	2.3
	Chocolate digestive x2	2.3
	Corn snacks	2.5

	Flapjack (50g)	2.6
	Apple crumble (117g, white flour)	2.7
	Twiglets (small bag)	2.9
	Hot cross bun	2.9
	Danish pastry	3.0