High Potassium Foods

For those looking for the health benefits of improved blood pressure, reduced osteoporosis and less risk of kidney stones – all of which you get from high potassium foods, fruits are a tasty way to go. Many fruits have a highly favorable potassium to sodium ratio. All those in this table have a greater than 3:1 potassium:sodium ratio.

Autumn is a great time to go for hikes and take in all those great fall colors. Dried fruits are a great snack to take along. They pack a lot of nutrition in a small, light package. Normally, fruits have high water content, but when they are dehydrated or dried they provide a lot of potassium in a small piece. The values in the table are for a 100 grams of food (about 3 1/2 ounces). The potassium and sodium are in milligrams.

Although the ratios are favorable for all the listed fruits, there is a big variation in the amount of potassium. For example, dehydrated, uncooked apples have only about a third the amount of potassium that dehydrated, uncooked apricots have. Before the dried fruit loses water in the drying process, the amount of potassium in 100 grams of food is less. But the amount of potassium in a piece of fruit is not less – the piece of fruit is just heavier and the potassium is diluted from the water. If you stew the fruit, be sure to drink the water, since some of the potassium will go into the liquid.

Source – USDA National Nutrient Database Standard Reference – Release 22.