Need Potassium? Forget Bananas & OJ!
Often during initial weight loss a temporary potassium depletion occurs. Why are doctors are so quick to suggest high carb options like bananas or orange juice? Diabetes and obesity are rampant, yet the best doctors can manage for potassium supplementation is ... fruit?
As I've posted before it's rather amazing that doctors don't take a single nutrition class in medical school. Not one! Not in premed either. Check any major medical school 4 year curriculum -- no nutritional training is required.
For anyone following a low carb plan it wouldn't help anyway. Nutritionists and dietitians are trained to the carb heavy USDA food pyramid.
This is why we get the parroted "1200 calories a day" and "8 glasses of water" mantra. They don't know that it's true, but that's what we've always heard and that's what they will repeat to you. It's a little like girls on a school playground repeating the wrong information. When questioned what's their answer? "Well, that's what I heard."
Moral of the story: Don't be afraid to question your doctor. And feel free to pick low carb high potassium foods that pack much more nutrition than high carb bananas or orange juice!
Potassium in fruits & vegetables (highest to lowest)
Summer squash, 1 large (zucchini/courgettes)
Calories 102
Carbs 22 gm
Potassium 980 mg
Spinach cooked, 1 cup
Calories 44
Carbs 7 gm
Potassium 881 mg
Tuna, cooked 5 oz
Calories 216
Carbs 0 gm
Potassium 742 mg
Mushrooms, cooked, 1 cup
Calories 43
Carbs 8 gm
Potassium 552 mg
Beef, 5 oz cooked
Calories 301
Carbs 0 gm
Potassium 546 mg
Broccoli, cooked 1 cup chopped
Calories 64
Carbs 13 gm
Potassium 536 mg
Orange juice, 8 oz
Calories 113
Carbs 27 gm
Potassium 481 mg
Collard greens, 1 cup cooked
Calories 61
Carbs 12 gm
Potassium 424 mg
Banana, 1 small
Calories 91
Carbs 23 gm
Potassium 361 mg
Chicken breast, 5 oz cooked
Calories 213
Carbs 0 gm
Potassium 330mg
Lettuce, romaine, 2 cups shredded
Calories 16
Carbs 3 gm
Potassium 325 mg
Bell peppers, 1 large
Calories 32
Carbs 11 gm
Potassium 287 mg
How's a potassium rich low carb peppers, onion, mushroom, spinach & feta Kimkins omelette sound?
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