Low Potassium Foods – Breads

Many types of bread are low potassium foods. In addition they generally are high in sodium also. Potassium, sodium and phosphorus need to be controlled in those who have the most common reason for being on a low potassium diet – those with poorly functioning kidneys. For those with poor kidneys, sodium will cause more fluid to accumulate and should be limited. This table includes sodium so you can identify those breads that are very high in sodium, and find the breads that are relatively lower in sodium.

Other Factors

Those who also have diabetes will need to limit carbohydrates. Generally one slice of bread is considered a serving, and about 6 to 11 servings of grains, including breads, can be consumed in a day. Whole grain and high fiber breads should be avoided since they are usually higher in phosphorus. Other sources of grains include rice, pasta and noodles discussed here. Whole, intact grains for porridges and cereals, and unleavened flour, such as used for tortillas are discussed here.

The breads are all high in carbohydrates, and those in renal failure are in need of an additional source of protein to provide 8 to 10 ounces of protein foods daily. This should come from meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. Nuts, lentils and high protein grains are still lower in protein and are higher in potassium and phosphorus for equal amounts of protein.

If the only requirement is low potassium, the breads listed will help. They are all less than 200 mg potassium in a serving, except for the mixes that provide multiple servings.

Medical Condition Caution

But people with medical conditions requiring a low potassium diet most often need multiple aspects of their diet regulated, and need the advice of a doctor and dietitian to help with their specific requirements. These tables will be inadequate for managing their health, and can only serve as a guide to show how foods that seem similar will vary significantly in important dietary elements.

The weights all are grams except for the potassium and sodium, which are milligrams. The potassium and sodium values given are for 100 grams of food.

As usual, K is potassium, and Na is sodium.

Except for the potassium to sodium ratio, amount of potassium per serving, and sodium per serving (all of which we calculated), the source of data is: USDA National Nutrient Database Standard Reference – Release 22.

Food Potassium Sodium Serving Wt Serving Size Ratio K:Na K per Serving Na per Serving
Bread, banana, prepared from recipe, made with margarine 134 302 57 1 individual, loaf (include
Keebler Elfin Loaves)
0.44 76 172
Bread, boston brown, canned 318 631 45 1 slice 0.5 143 284
Bread, cornbread, dry mix, enriched (includes
corn muffin mix)
113 1111 241 1 package, (8.5 oz) 0.1 272 2678
Bread, cornbread, dry mix, prepared 128 778 60 1 piece 0.16 77 467
Bread, cornbread, prepared from recipe, made
with low fat (2%) milk
147 658 65 1 piece 0.22 96 428
Bread, cracked-wheat 177 538 3 1 cubic inch 0.33 6 17
Bread, egg 115 492 40 1 slice, (5″ x 3″ x 1/2″) 0.23 46 197
Bread, egg, toasted 126 540 37 1 slice, (5″ x 3″ x 1/2″) 0.23 47 200
Bread, french or vienna (includes sourdough) 128 650 32 1 slice, small (2″ x 2-1/2″ x
1-3/4″)
0.2 41 208
Bread, french or vienna, toasted (includes
sourdough)
140 720 59 1 slice, medium 0.19 83 425
Bread, italian 110 584 30 1 slice, large (4-1/2″ x
3-1/4″ x 3/4″)
0.19 33 175
Bread, Multi-Grain (includes whole-grain) 230 420 26 1 slice, regular 0.55 61 111
Bread, Multi-Grain, toasted (includes
whole-grain)
250 457 24 1 slice, regular 0.55 60 110
Bread, oat bran 147 407 30 1 slice 0.36 44 122
Bread, oat bran, toasted 123 448 27 1 slice 0.27 33 121
Bread, oatmeal 142 599 27 1 slice 0.24 38 162
Bread, oatmeal, toasted 154 651 25 1 slice 0.24 39 163
Bread, pita, white, enriched 120 536 28 1 pita, small
(4″ dia)
0.22 34 150
Bread, protein (includes gluten) 322 547 19 1 slice 0.59 61 104
Bread, pumpernickel 208 671 26 1 slice, regular 0.31 54 174
Bread, pumpernickel, toasted 228 738 29 1 slice, (5″ x 4″ x 3/8″) 0.31 66 214
Bread, raisin, enriched 227 390 32 1 slice, large 0.58 73 125
Bread, raisin, toasted, enriched 246 424 29 1 slice, large 0.58 71 123
Bread, reduced-calorie, oat bran 102 351 23 1 slice 0.29 23 81
Bread, reduced-calorie, oat bran, toasted 122 418 19 1 slice 0.29 23 79
Bread, reduced-calorie, oatmeal 124 388 23 1 slice 0.32 29 89
Bread, reduced-calorie, rye 98 405 23 1 slice 0.24 23 93
Bread, reduced-calorie, wheat 122 511 23 1 slice 0.24 28 118
Bread, reduced-calorie, white 76 453 23 1 slice 0.17 17 104
Bread, rice bran 215 440 27 1 slice 0.49 58 119
Bread, rye 166 660 32 1 slice, regular 0.25 53 211
Bread, rye, toasted 183 725 29 1 slice, large 0.25 53 210
Bread, wheat 184 521 25 1 slice 0.35 46 130
Bread, wheat, toasted 223 611 24 1 slice 0.36 54 147
Bread, wheat bran 227 486 36 1 slice 0.47 82 175
Bread, wheat germ 254 553 28 1 slice 0.46 71 155
Bread, white, commercially prepared (includes
soft bread crumbs)
100 681 35 1 cup, cubes 0.15 35 238
Bread, white, commercially prepared, toasted 131 592 42 1 cup, cubes 0.22 55 249
Bread, white, prepared from recipe, made with
nonfat dry milk
111 336 44 1 slice 0.33 49 148
Bread, white, prepared from recipe, made with
low fat (2%) milk
146 359 42 1 slice 0.41 61 151
Bread, whole-wheat, commercially prepared 248 472 28 1 slice 0.53 69 132
Bread, whole-wheat, commercially prepared,
toasted
326 583 25 1 slice 0.56 82 146
Bread, whole-wheat, prepared from recipe 314 346 46 1 slice, regular (4″ x 5″ x
3/4″)
0.91 144 159
Bread, whole-wheat, prepared from recipe,
toasted
345 381 42 1 slice 0.91 145 160
Bread sticks, plain 124 657 5 1 stick, small (approx 4-1/4″
long)
0.19 6 33
Bread stuffing, bread, dry mix 246 1590 170 1 package, (6 oz) 0.15 418 2703
Bread stuffing, bread, dry mix, prepared 74 543 100 .5 cup 0.14 74 543
Bread stuffing, cornbread, dry mix 204 1283 170 1 package, (6 oz) 0.16 347 2181
Bread stuffing, cornbread, dry mix, prepared 62 455 100 .5 cup 0.14 62 455
Bread, protein, toasted (includes gluten) 346 601 17 1 slice 0.58 59 102
Bread, rice bran, toasted 212 478 25 1 slice 0.44 53 120
Bread, wheat germ, toasted 285 621 25 1 slice 0.46 71 155
Bread, cornbread, dry mix, unenriched
(includes corn muffin mix)
113 1111 241 1 package, (8.5 oz) 0.1 272 2678
Bread, pita, white, unenriched 120 536 60 1 pita, large (6-1/2″ dia) 0.22 72 322
Bread, raisin, unenriched 227 390 32 1 slice, large 0.58 73 125
Bread, white, commercially prepared, low
sodium no salt
119 27 35 1 cup, cubes 4.4 42 9
Bread, white, commercially prepared, toasted,
low sodium no salt
131 30 23 1 slice 4.4 30 7
Bread, pan dulce, sweet yeast bread 103 228 63 1 slice, (average weight of 1
slice)
0.45 65 144

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