Potassium is a mineral found in the foods you eat. Changes in body potassium may not be a concern if you don’t have certain risk factors, because healthy kidneys are often enough to regulate body potassium.

Potassium is a mineral found in the foods you eat. It’s also an electrolyte. Electrolytes conduct electrical impulses throughout the body. They assist in a range of essential body functions, including:

  • blood pressure
  • normal water balance
  • muscle contractions
  • nerve impulses
  • digestion
  • heart rhythm
  • pH balance (acidity and alkalinity)

Your body doesn’t produce potassium naturally. So, it’s important to consume the right balance of potassium-rich foods and beverages. The FDA has set the daily value (DV) for potassium at 4700 mg.

Consuming too little potassium can lead to serious health issues. However, taking in too much can cause temporary or long-term health problems.

Healthy kidneys maintain normal potassium levels in the body because they remove excess amounts through urine.

The most common source of potassium is from food.

Potassium-rich fruits include:

  • durian (1059 mg per cup)
  • guava (688 mg per cup)
  • kiwi fruit (562 mg per cup)
  • cantaloupe (473 mg per cup)
  • bananas (451 mg in one medium banana)
  • grapefruit (415 mg in one fruit)
  • fresh apricots (401 mg per 1 cup)

Fruit juices that are rich in potassium (Note: these amounts are for 100% juice) include:

  • prune juice (707 mg per cup)
  • carrot juice (689 mg per cup)
  • passion fruit juice (687 mg per cup)
  • pomegranate juice (533 mg per cup)
  • orange juice (496 mg per cup)
  • tangerine juice (440 mg per cup)

Potassium-rich vegetables include:

  • beet greens, cooked (1309 mg per cup)
  • Swiss chard, cooked (962 mg per cup)
  • potato, baked with skin (926 mg in one medium potato)
  • acorn squash (896 mg per cup)
  • spinach, cooked (839 mg per cup)
  • avocado (728 mg per cup)

Beans and other legumes that are high in potassium include:

  • adzuki beans, cooked (1224 mg per cup)
  • white beans, cooked (1004 mg per cup)
  • lima beans, cooked (939 mg per cup)
  • lentils, cooked (731 mg per cup)
  • kidney beans, canned (607 mg per cup)

Some high protein foods contain some amounts of potassium, such as:

  • chicken breast, grilled boneless (332 mg per 3 oz)
  • Atlantic salmon, farmed, cooked (326 mg per 3 oz)
  • beef, top sirloin, grilled (315 mg per 3 oz)

For low potassium levels, a doctor may prescribe the mineral in supplement form. If you have a severe deficiency, you may need intravenous (IV) treatment.

Certain conditions can cause potassium deficiencies, or hypokalemia. These include:

The symptoms of hypokalemia are different depending on how severe your deficiency is.

A temporary decrease in potassium may not cause any symptoms. For example, if you sweat a lot from a hard workout, your potassium levels may normalize after eating a meal or drinking electrolytes before any damage is done.

However, severe deficiencies can be life-threatening. Symptoms of a potassium deficiency include:

  • extreme fatigue
  • muscle spasms, weakness, or cramping
  • irregular heartbeat
  • constipation, nausea, or vomiting

Hypokalemia is usually diagnosed with a blood test. Your doctor may also order an electrocardiogram of your heart and an arterial blood gas test to measure pH levels in your body.

Too much potassium can cause hyperkalemia. This is rare in people who eat balanced diets. Risk factors for overdose include:

  • taking too many potassium supplements
  • kidney disease
  • prolonged exercise
  • cocaine use
  • potassium-conserving diuretics
  • chemotherapy
  • diabetes
  • severe burns

The most obvious symptom of too much potassium is an abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia). Severe cases can lead to death.

People with mild cases of high potassium rarely have noticeable symptoms. Your doctor should order occasional blood work if you have any risk factors.

There are different treatments for imbalanced potassium levels that depend on if your levels are too high or too low.

Hypokalemia (low)

Potassium supplements are usually the first course of action for levels that are too low. Supplements are mostly effective if your kidneys are in good shape.

Severe hypokalemia may require IV treatment, especially if you’re experiencing an abnormal heartbeat.

Potassium-sparing diuretics can rid the body of excess sodium. This will help normalize electrolyte levels. But, some diuretics and potassium supplements can be harsh on the digestive tract.

Ask a doctor for wax-coated pills to help prevent digestive issues. Only people with normal kidney function can use potassium-sparing diuretics.

Hyperkalemia (high)

Mild cases of hyperkalemia can be treated with prescription medications that increase potassium excretion. Other methods include diuretics or an enema.

Severe cases may require more complex treatments. Kidney dialysis can remove potassium. This treatment is the preferred for cases of kidney failure.

For people with healthy kidneys, a doctor might recommend insulin and glucose. These help to transport potassium from the blood to cells for removal.

An albuterol inhaler can also lower dangerously high levels. Calcium gluconate may be used temporarily to stabilize the heart and reduce the risk of serious heart complications from hyperkalemia.

Changes in body potassium may not be a concern if you don’t have risk factors. Healthy kidneys are often enough to regulate body potassium.

Medical conditions that affect levels should be monitored regularly. Call your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms.