High potassium in foods is a problem that people suffering from kidney disease have to deal with daily. Many fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium ( as the banana), while others like broccoli can be considered low in potassium.
If we consider the most common types of vegetables, lettuce is one of those. The lettuce is primarily utilized as salads, but it can enrich sandwiches or be used for a delicious soup.
In whatever ways you decide to utilize it, if you are following a low potassium diet, you would avoid consuming foods containing high potassium, but is it the case for lettuce? Does lettuce contain potassium?
Anyway, it is essential to mention that there are different types of lettuce, and each of them has various benefits and nutrients, so what we are waiting for, let’s dive in.
Is iceberg lettuce high in potassium?
Iceberg lettuce is the most common variety of lettuce sold in the USA. It goes well with every type of dish and condiments.
The nutritional value of iceberg lettuce derives from vitamins and minerals. It is an excellent vitamin K source that helps maintain cardiovascular health.
Vitamine A, is an essential nutrient for keeping excellent vision and protecting the retina from damaging free radical molecules from light.
If you are following a low potassium diet, consuming iceberg lettuce will give you essential benefits for your health and not alter you from respecting your low potassium diet.
Is romaine lettuce high in potassium?
Romaine lettuce is another variety of lettuce; it has a longer body and is part of the leaf type.
It is less common than the iceberg types, and special attention must be made because of contamination that they can get from the pathogenic E. coli bacteria.
Romaine lettuce is considered the perfect substitute for iceberg lettuce. They have the same nutrient values, and as part of the dark leafy greens, studies have shown that the antioxidants on them could help prevent cancer.
There is no difference in potassium between the iceberg and the romaine types. Whatever choice you make, the only differences will be related to their taste.
Is butter lettuce high in potassium?
Butter lettuce is another variant of green lettuce; it goes well in salad, sandwiches, or just as a side dish for chicken or other types of food.
Finding butter lettuce is not a challenging task; in fact, most of the grocery stores sell it with whole heads.
You might be interested to know:
Is red leaf lettuce high in potassium?
Red leaf lettuce shares the same nutritional value as the other family lettuce members, with the only differences in its color leave that will enrich your salad or sandwich with more color.
The potassium content of red leaf lettuce is slightly different from the other types of lettuce; red leaf lettuce have :
- 24% more potassium than iceberg type
- 32% less potassium than romaine lettuce
- 25% less potassium than butter lettuce
Is lettuce good for kidney patients?
Selecting the right food, especially from people who follow a kidney-friendly diet, is not easy, especially when they have to avoid foods that contain high amounts of potassium.
People suffering from renal disease usually avoid foods containing high potassium percentages, but it is not the case for lettuce. Lettuce can be considered a safe vegetable to consume if you suffer from kidney disease.
Having a considerable amount of potassium, especially in patients that have been diagnosed with CKD, is very dangerous because it can lead to hyperkalemia. This condition could make the patient’s condition even worse.
Further information and study have been made, and they have shown that there isn’t any risk from people affected by chronic kidney disease to consume lettuce.
What lettuce is high in potassium?
Below, you find a list of potassium content of lettuce order from the one containing most potassium.
- Butter lettuce 250 mg of potassium per 100g of it
- Romaine lettuce 247 mg of potassium per 100 of it
- Red leaf lettuce 187 mg of potassium per 100g of it
- Icebar lettuce 141 mg of potassium per 100g of it
Final thoughts
Feeding our body with the correct quantity of minerals is essential. If you are not suffering from any kidney disease, you have to ensure that you respect the Ai (Adequate intake) of potassium. Opposite discussion for people that are following a low potassium diet. In fact, in that case, the best thing should be limiting the intake of potassium under the supervision of a doctor specializing in nutrition.
