Knowledge Article

Pattamapan Lomarat (B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences),
Department of Food Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy,
Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Potassium is a mineral that is essential for our body. Potassium plays an important role in normal cellular function and metabolism, such as regulating the activity of nerves and muscles, maintaining proper electrolyte balance and acid-base balance in the body, preventing hyper-acidity, controlling high blood pressure and also reducing the risk of stroke.    


Evidence from a variety of sources indicate that in societies with high potassium intake, both mean blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension tend to be lower than in societies with low potassium intake. In addition, adequate dietary potassium intake is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. In 1998, Ascherio et al reported that a higher potassium intake was associated with a 38% lower risk of stroke.


According to ‘Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine’ , a person who is above 14 years of age must consume at least 4.7g of dietary potassium per day. Nowadays, potassium intake does not meet the respective adequate intake for all age groups. There are a large number of foods that are rich in potassium, including vegetables, fruits, low-fat and fat free dairy products, beans and cereals. This makes it easy to meet dietary potassium recommendations. Let’s get to know the list of the top 10 potassium-rich foods.   

Rank	Food item	Serving size	Potassium content
1	Cocoa powder	100 g	1.5 g
2	Dried prunes	100 g	1.1 g
3	Dried raisins	100 g	892 mg
4	Sunflower seeds	100 g	850 mg
5	Dates (Medjool)	100 g	696 mg
6	Salmon	100 g	628 mg
7	Spinach (Raw)	100 g	558 mg
8	Mushrooms	100 g	484 mg
9	Bananas	100 g	358 mg
10	Oranges	100 g	181 mg

From the above, you can see that one can meet the daily recommended intake of potassium by consuming a wide variety of foods. However, one should also have a balanced and healthy diet by limiting the content of sugar, fat and cholesterol content in foods in order to decrease the risk of many diseases and to stay fit and healthy.
Although the consumption of adequate dietary potassium is beneficial for overall health, for individuals with medical conditions that could impair potassium excretion (e.g. chronic renal failure, diabetes, and congestive heart failure), a potassium intake of less than 4.7g/day would be appropriate to prevent hyperkalemia. The proper potassium content which is suitable for each patient should therefore be advised by doctors.

Note: An educational article about foods and nutrition by Pattamapan Lomarat (B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences), Department of Food Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Edited by N. & V. P. of U.K.

Reference
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3. Ascherio A, Rimm EB, Hernan MA, et al. Intake of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and fiber and risk of stroke among US men. Circulation. 98; 1998, 1198-1204.
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