Potassium
Supports fluid balance, nerve signals, muscle contraction, and healthy blood pressure.
Why it matters
Potassium is an electrolyte that helps nerves fire, muscles contract, and fluids stay balanced. Diets with more potassium-rich foods are also linked with healthier blood pressure.
- Supports nerve transmission and muscle contraction.
- Helps maintain fluid balance inside cells.
- Supports healthy blood pressure patterns.
If intake is too low
Many people do not get enough potassium from food. Low intake can raise blood pressure risk, and clinically low potassium can cause weakness, cramps, constipation, or dangerous heart rhythm problems.
- Higher risk of high blood pressure with chronically low intake.
- Muscle weakness, cramps, or constipation when potassium runs low.
- Abnormal heart rhythms when deficiency becomes severe.
If intake is too high
Potassium from food has not been shown to harm healthy people, but excess potassium from supplements, salt substitutes, or impaired kidney function can be dangerous.
- High blood potassium can trigger serious heart rhythm problems.
- Risk rises sharply with kidney disease or certain medications.
- Salt substitutes can add more potassium than people expect.
No adult upper limit established
No tolerable upper intake level has been established for healthy people, but excess potassium can still be dangerous when kidneys do not clear it well.
Common food sources
Potassium comes mostly from fruits, vegetables, beans, dairy foods, and some fish.
- Potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and leafy greens
- Beans, lentils, bananas, oranges, and dried fruit
- Milk, yogurt, and some fish
Who may need closer attention
Low intake is common when diets are light on produce and legumes. Safety concerns are more common when kidney handling of potassium is impaired.
- People eating very little fruit, vegetables, or beans
- People losing potassium through vomiting, diarrhea, or some diuretics
- People with kidney disease or medications that raise potassium
Use extra caution if
Small details change the risk picture with nutrients more than most people expect.
You have kidney disease, use ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium-sparing diuretics, or rely on salt substitutes. Potassium safety depends heavily on medical context.
Supplement and label notes
Useful context when this nutrient shows up across more than one product.
- Over-the-counter potassium supplements often contain modest amounts, but salt substitutes can contain a lot of potassium chloride.
- Electrolyte powders, pre-workouts, and hydration mixes can all add potassium.
- Do not assume more potassium is automatically better if you have kidney or heart issues.
Daily Value targets in SuppMap
These are the same label-style Daily Value targets used in the app.
Official references
These pages were used to draft the summaries on this guide.
Educational only. These pages are not a diagnosis or a substitute for personal medical care.
More guides
Keep moving through the rest of the Daily Value chart from here.