Potassium rich foods
In our body about 0.25% is potassium. A 70 kg adult contains a total of about 175 g of potassium.
The essential mineral potassium is necessary for the function of all living cells. It is the major cation (positive ion) inside cells at a concentration of about 150 mmol/L.
Potassium is actively pumped into the cells while sodium is actively pumped out of the cells. This process is mediated by the so-called Na+/K+-ATPase pump.
The resultant concentration differences between the inside and outside of the cell membrane cause what is known as the membrane potential making possible the propagation of impulses in the brain, nerves, and muscles including the heart. More on potassium here.
The recommended daily intake is about 4-5 grams in adults.
Below is a list of foods having the highest content of potassium in milligrams (mg) per 100 grams of the food. The list also includes the number of kilocalories (kcal) and the potassium content in milligrams (mg) per kcal, and the list is sorted with respect to the latter with the highest values at the top.
As you can see there are many foods having a high potassium content per kcal. So if you are lacking in potassium, you could easily correct the deficiency by eating some of these foods.
The list is made using ECstep’s Personal Nutrition Data Program and includes more than 100 of the potassium richest foods. Commercial brand products are not included in this list.
