Potassium is a mineral and electrolyte that plays an important role in the body for normal cellular, nerve and muscle function. It's primarily excreted from the body by the kidneys and urine, but potassium can also be excreted through the gastrointestinal tract and by sweat. If you have kidney disease, your doctor or registered dietitian may recommend you choose foods and beverages low in potassium to prevent hyperkalemia, or high potassium level, in your blood. A blood potassium level greater than 5.0 milliequivalents per liter can result in an irregular heartbeat and in severe cases, cause a heart attack.
Your daily intake of potassium may vary above or below the dietary reference intake -- DRI -- based on certain medical conditions. For healthy males and females age 14 years and older, the DRI for potassium is 4,700 milligrams per day. Lactating women may need more, about 5,100 milligrams per day. If you have kidney disease, your potassium intake may need to be monitored closely and possibly restricted. Talk to your doctor or registered dietitian to find out how much potassium is needed based on your health condition.
Juices Low in Potassium
Potassium is found in most fruits and vegetables so it's important to read food labels. Cocktail juices tend to have less potassium than a concentrated juice mix. For example, a frozen grape juice cocktail mix diluted in water can have as little as 53 milligrams of potassium per 1-cup serving, while canned or bottled grape juice can have as much as 263 milligrams of potassium. Cranberry juice is low potassium with 35 milligrams per 1-cup serving. Apple juice can be moderately high in potassium, ranging from 150 to 250 milligrams of potassium per 1-cup serving; a half-cup is usually recommended for individuals with progressive kidney disease.
Juices High in Potassium
If you're trying to monitor your potassium intake, watch out for juices that are high in potassium. Prune, grapefruit, orange, tomato and vegetable juices are all high in potassium, with more than 400 milligrams of potassium per 1-cup serving.
Try to limit your intake of juice to no more than a 1-cup serving per day. Juice is considered a concentrated sweet beverage, which is high in sugar and may likely be higher in potassium that actually eating the fruit itself. Choose more whole fruits and vegetables low in potassium to avoid the excess sugar.
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