Potassium is a vital mineral and electrolyte for your body.
It helps maintain normal blood pressure, transports nutrients into your cells, and supports healthy nerve and muscle function.
The adequate intake (AI) for potassium is 4,700 mg in healthy individuals, but unfortunately, most people don’t get enough potassium through their diets.
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Explore new cuisinesSome people turn to bananas, as these are well known for being high in potassium, one medium-sized banana typically containing 422 mg or 9% of the adequate intake.
But bananas are not the only potassium heroes.
Here are 15 foods that pack more potassium than a banana.
1. Avocados
Avocados have become extremely popular and trendy — and with good reason.
Packed with good fats, avocados are also a particularly great source of vitamin K and folate. One-half of an avocado (100 grams) contains 487 mg of potassium or 10% of the adequate intake. If you eat a whole avocado, you’d get 20% of your daily potassium needs at once.
What’s more, avocados may help people with high blood pressure, who are often told to increase their potassium and reduce their salt (sodium) intake.
This advice stems from a study called Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). Further research has verified the benefits of potassium in reducing blood pressure.
Avocados, like most fruit, are low in sodium. Half an avocado provides 7 mg or just 0.5% of your recommended dietary intake (RDI) of sodium.
Summary: Avocados are jam-packed with nutrients — only half a fruit gets you 10% of your daily potassium needs. They’re also rich in vitamin K and folate and may even help lower your blood pressure.
2. Sweet potatoes
Like avocados, sweet potatoes have become increasingly popular and are often used as an alternative to potatoes.
They’re an especially nutritious way of supporting your potassium intake — one medium-sized sweet potato contains 541 mg or 12% of your potassium adequate intake.
What’s more, sweet potatoes are low in fat, pack a small amount of protein, and are a good source of complex carbohydrates and fiber. They’re also an excellent source of vitamin A, as one sweet potato provides over 400% of your recommended dietary intake.
Pair these scrumptious root vegetables with good protein such as beans or meat, dark greens or colored vegetables, and a little fat for a well-balanced and filling meal.
Summary: Sweet potatoes are a great way of adding more potassium to your diet. Just one medium-sized specimen doles out 12% of the adequate intake, as well as some protein, fiber, and vitamin A.
3. Spinach
Without a doubt, spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables around.
One cup (156 grams) of frozen spinach contains 540 mg of potassium or roughly 12% of the adequate intake.
It also packs a punch with other nutrients. The same serving size contains 366% of your recommended dietary intake for vitamin A, 725% for vitamin K, 57% for folate, and 29% for magnesium.
Similarly, about three cups (100 grams) of raw spinach contain 558 mg of potassium, also around 12% of the adequate intake.
Keep in mind that visually 100 grams of raw spinach is a lot more on your plate than the same amount frozen.
Summary: Spinach provides more potassium per serving than a banana — about 12% of the adequate intake per one cup (156 grams) frozen or three cups (100 grams) fresh. This vegetable also packs vitamins A and K, as well as folate and magnesium.
4. Watermelon
Watermelon is a large, delicious fruit with high water content.
Just two wedges of watermelon (about 1/8 of a melon or 572 grams) will give you 640 mg of potassium, just under 14% of the adequate intake.
The same serving size also contains 172 calories, 44 grams of carbohydrates, 3.4 grams of protein, 0.8 grams of fat, and 2.2 grams of fiber.
What’s more, this lush, red melon is a great source of vitamins A and C, as well as magnesium.
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Summary: Watermelon is a tasty, summery fruit, just two wedges of which can give you almost 14% of your potassium adequate intake, as well as vitamins A and C at only 172 calories.
5. Coconut water
Coconut water is a fantastic, hydrating drink. You can shop for it online.
It’s an excellent natural alternative to sports drinks, as it contains key electrolytes that help draw water into your cells, and its natural sugars provide energy during exercise or replenish lost glycogen stores after.
One cup (240 ml) of coconut water contains 600 mg or about 13% of the adequate intake for potassium. Plus, it’s a good source of magnesium, calcium, sodium, and manganese.
It’s refreshing when served chilled with ice after a sweaty workout.
Summary: Coconut water is not only a great hydrating drink but also an excellent source of potassium, containing 13% of the adequate intake in just one cup (240 ml). It’s also a good source of magnesium, calcium, sodium, and manganese.
6. White beans
The term white beans can refer to navy (pea) beans, cannellini (white kidney) beans, great northern beans, or lima beans.
Though bananas are lauded for their potassium content, one cup (179 grams) of any of these beans has twice as much potassium as one banana. One cup of cooked white beans gives you 829 mg of potassium — a whopping 18% of the adequate intake.
One cup also provides 28–61% of the recommended dietary intake for various B vitamins. Additionally, white beans are a great source of iron and plant-based protein.
As one cup (179 grams) alone contains nearly 19 grams of fiber, they also happen to be very filling.
White beans are incredibly versatile and can easily be added to your diet, for example as an ingredient for salads or stews.
Summary: White beans are a terrific source of potassium — one cup (179 grams) has 18% of the adequate intake or the equivalent of two bananas. These beans can be easily added to salads and stews to increase your potassium intake.
7. Black beans
Black beans, also known as turtle beans, are a staple food in Central and South America.
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They’re often used in burritos and soups. You can even purchase them online.
Although white beans may have more potassium than black beans, the latter is still a great source of potassium. One cup (172 grams) of black beans gives you 611 mg or 13% of the adequate intake.
However, as black beans contain phytates that can reduce your body’s absorption of minerals, not all of that potassium may be put to use.
It’s difficult to know how much these phytates may affect the absorption of minerals like potassium, but if you’re using dried beans it’s best to soak them overnight. This step will help reduce the number of phytates.
Summary: Black beans are a versatile food that can provide you with 13% of your potassium adequate intake in one cup (172 grams). Soaking dried beans first may improve mineral absorption, including potassium.
8. Edamame
Edamame, traditionally eaten in Japan, is immature soybeans served in the pod.
They too have more potassium in one cup than a banana. One cup (155 grams) provides 676 mg or just over 14% of the adequate intake.
They’re filled with many other nutrients, but most notably contain 121% of the recommended dietary intake for folate per cup (155 grams).
What’s more, they’re a great source of vitamin K, magnesium, and manganese.
Edamame is delicious lightly steamed as an accompaniment to meals.
Summary: Edamame is packed with nutrients, with one cup providing 14% of your potassium adequate intake, as well as good amounts of vitamin K, magnesium, and manganese.
9. Tomato paste
Tomato paste is made from cooked tomatoes that have been peeled and deseeded.
This concentrated condiment adds great flavor to all tomato-based sauces and dishes.
Just three tablespoons or about 50 grams contain 486 mg of potassium, which is just over 10% of the adequate intake. Tomato paste is also a good source of vitamin C and lycopene, a beneficial plant compound.
Watch out for tomato pastes that have added sugars, additives, or preservatives. It’s advisable to pick the product with the fewest ingredients.
Summary: Tomato paste not only enriches the taste of your food but provides ample amounts of potassium in small servings. Three tablespoons or about 50 grams pack around 10% of the adequate intake, as well as vitamin C and the beneficial plant compound lycopene.
10. Butternut squash
Butternut squash is sweet-tasting winter squash. While technically a fruit, it’s cooked like a root vegetable.
One cup (205 grams) of butternut squash can give you 582 mg of potassium — over 12% of the adequate intake.
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It’s also a great source of vitamins A and C and has smaller amounts of B vitamins, vitamin E, and magnesium.
Butternut squashes can be roasted, boiled, steamed, or chopped up for use in hearty soups.
Summary: Butternut squash is a great source of potassium, boasting 12% of the adequate intake in a single cup (205 grams). This fruit also packs vitamins A and C, as well as smaller amounts of B vitamins, vitamin E, and magnesium.
11. Potatoes
Potatoes are a starchy root vegetable that remains a staple food in several countries worldwide.
One potato (136 grams) can provide 515 mg of potassium, which is 11% of the adequate intake.
One study reported that potatoes are the best dietary source of potassium, calculating that a small baked potato provides 738 mg of potassium or nearly 16% of the adequate intake.
However, there are many different varieties of potatoes, and their potassium content may depend on the soil in which they’re grown.
As potatoes are eaten daily in many parts of the world, they may be a key contributor to potassium intake in people’s diets.
Summary: Potatoes are a staple in many households and plentiful in potassium, with one potato typically providing 11% of the adequate intake.
12. Dried apricots
Dried apricots are made from dehydrated fresh apricots. They have a long shelf life and are usually pitted.
Six dried apricots provide 488 mg of potassium, which is over 10% of the adequate intake. These fruits are also a good source of fiber and vitamins A and E.
Dried apricots are lovelily mixed into muesli and are a healthy snack on hikes or camping trips.
Summary: Dried apricots are a great alternative to bananas for a potassium boost. About six apricots will give you 10% of the adequate intake, as well as fiber and vitamins A and E.
13. Swiss chard
Swiss chard, also known as silverbeet or simply chard, is a leafy green vegetable.
Their thick stalks can range from red to orange to white.
They’re highly nutritious. Just one cup (178 grams) of cooked chard provides 961 mg or 20% of the adequate intake for potassium — that’s more than double the potassium in a banana.
The same amount also packs 716% of the recommended dietary intake for vitamin K and 214% of the recommended dietary intake for vitamin A.
They’re also low in calories and a good source of fiber.
Swiss chard is sometimes overlooked in favor of other leafy greens, but it’s a delicious base for salads and can be easily steamed or sautéed with a little oil.
Summary: Swiss chard is a nourishing dark green vegetable that contains over twice as much potassium per cooked cup as a banana, about 20% of the adequate intake. They’re also loaded with vitamins K and A.
14. Beets
Beets or beetroot are deep-purple vegetables, often boiled, pickled, or added to salads.
One cup or around 170 grams of boiled beets can give you 518 mg of potassium, or 11% of the adequate intake.
For those wanting to increase their potassium intake to help prevent or manage high blood pressure, beets may have an added advantage.
This root veggie also contains nitrates, which — when converted into nitric oxide — have been shown to support blood vessel function and overall heart health.
Beets are also an excellent source of folate, with one cup (170 grams) providing 34% of the recommended dietary intake.
Summary: Beets or beetroot are a deep-purple vegetable that, when cooked, contains 11% of your potassium adequate intake in one cup or about 170 grams. They’re also a good source of folate and contain nitrates which have been shown to support heart health.
15. Pomegranate
Pomegranates are an extremely healthy, multi-seeded fruit, about the size of an orange and ranging in color from red to purple.
They’re a fantastic source of potassium, as one fruit can bestow 666 mg. This equates to just over 14% of the adequate intake.
What’s more, pomegranates are packed with vitamins C and K, as well as folate, and have a higher protein content than most fruits — 4.7 grams per fruit.
However, they pack more calories than most fruits and a sizeable amount of natural sugars.
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On the other hand, pomegranates also have 11 grams of fiber, which can help slow digestion and make you feel fuller longer.
Summary: Pomegranates are a very healthy fruit. Their potassium content stands at 14% of the adequate intake, and they pack vitamins C and K, as well as folate, fiber, and some protein.
Summary
Although bananas are a great source of potassium, many other healthy foods — such as sweet potatoes and beets — have more potassium per serving.
Some foods such as Swiss chard and white beans even have double the amount of potassium per cup, compared to a medium-sized banana.
The key to getting enough potassium is to eat a good range of plant-based foods each day. In particular, you could aim to include some of the above 15 high-potassium foods in your diet regularly to help boost your intake.
