What to drink to lower my potassium? The complete guide to safe and smart beverage choices

October 17, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Kidney Foundation, hyperkalemia, or high blood potassium, is a serious condition that can affect heart and muscle function. While diet is a primary factor in managing potassium levels, it is equally important to understand what to drink to lower my potassium and avoid high-potassium beverages.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of low-potassium beverage options, such as water, specific juices, and rice milk, while detailing which drinks like orange juice and high-potassium shakes should be avoided. It explains how to incorporate smart beverage choices into a diet designed to help manage elevated potassium levels.

Key Points

Prioritize Water: Still or sparkling water is the safest and most potassium-free beverage choice for managing hyperkalemia.
Choose Low-Potassium Juices: Limit intake of juices to low-potassium varieties like apple, cranberry, grape, and pineapple, and always check labels.
Limit Milk and High-Potassium Juices: Avoid or strictly limit beverages like orange juice, vegetable juice, and milk, which are concentrated sources of potassium.
Restrict Coffee and Tea: Enjoy tea and coffee in moderation, adhering to recommended daily limits to avoid excessive potassium intake.
Avoid Potassium-Based Additives: Be cautious of salt substitutes and certain pre-made drinks that contain potassium chloride.
Emphasize Leaching and Portion Control: Use cooking techniques like leaching for high-potassium vegetables and practice portion control for all foods and drinks to manage your overall intake.
Consult a Professional: Always consult a doctor or registered dietitian before making significant dietary changes to ensure they are appropriate for your health condition.

Understanding Potassium and Why You Need to Manage It

Potassium is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in nerve function, muscle contractions, and maintaining a normal heartbeat. The kidneys are responsible for filtering excess potassium from the blood. However, for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or other conditions, the kidneys may not function efficiently, leading to a buildup of potassium in the blood—a condition known as hyperkalemia. When potassium levels become too high, it can lead to serious health complications, especially affecting the heart. A significant part of managing hyperkalemia is controlling dietary intake, and this includes careful consideration of the beverages you consume.

What to Drink to Lower My Potassium: Safe Choices

Fortunately, many delicious and hydrating options are naturally low in potassium and can be enjoyed freely or in moderation as part of a low-potassium diet. Here are some of the safest choices:

Water: The best and most fundamental beverage choice is water, both still and sparkling. Water contains virtually no potassium and is essential for staying hydrated, especially when dealing with kidney issues.
Tea: Hot or iced tea is generally a low-to-moderate potassium beverage, making it a good choice for most people. However, moderation is key—limiting intake to around 16 ounces per day is often recommended. It is also important to check the ingredients of pre-made bottled teas, as some may contain potassium additives.
Certain Juices: While many fruit juices are high in potassium, some are low enough to be included in a restricted diet in limited quantities. Opt for apple, cranberry, grape, and pineapple juice. Be mindful of serving sizes, as even low-potassium juice can add up. Always check labels, as potassium content can vary significantly, especially in cranberry juice products.
Squash and Cordials: Diluted fruit squashes and cordials are often good low-potassium options. Again, review the ingredients to ensure no high-potassium additives or juices are included.
Fizzy Drinks: Many fizzy drinks are low in potassium and can be consumed in moderation. Options include lemonade and other carbonated soft drinks.
Rice and Oat Milk: For those seeking non-dairy alternatives, rice and oat milk are typically lower in potassium than soy or regular cow's milk. It's still wise to check the nutritional information on the packaging.

High-Potassium Beverages to Limit or Avoid

To effectively lower potassium, it is just as important to know which drinks to limit or avoid altogether. The following beverages are generally high in potassium and should be restricted based on your healthcare provider's recommendations:

Fruit Juices: Avoid or strictly limit orange juice, prune juice, pomegranate juice, and vegetable juice cocktails, as they contain very high levels of potassium.
Milk and Milkshakes: Dairy milk, and especially chocolate milk or milkshakes, can be high in potassium. Intake is typically restricted to a small amount per day, such as half a pint.
Smoothies: Smoothies often contain a blend of fruits, milk, or yogurt, making them a concentrated source of potassium.
Coffee: While a single cup may be acceptable, excessive coffee consumption can contribute to higher potassium intake. The general guideline is to limit intake to one 8-ounce cup per day.
Hot Chocolate and Malted Drinks: These beverages are often made with milk and cocoa, both of which are high in potassium and should be avoided.

Comparison of Beverage Potassium Levels

To help visualize the difference, here is a comparison of typical potassium levels in common beverages (note that values can vary by brand and preparation):


Beverage Type	Serving Size	Approximate Potassium Content (mg)	Recommendation for Low-Potassium Diet
Water (Tap or Sparkling)	8 oz	0-10	Unlimited
Cranberry Juice	8 oz	~20	Limited, check label
Apple Juice	8 oz	~150-170	Limited, watch portion size
Brewed Tea	8 oz	~78	Limited, up to 16 oz/day
Brewed Coffee	8 oz	~60-70	Limited, up to 8 oz/day
Orange Juice	8 oz	~496	Avoid
Vegetable Juice Cocktail	8 oz	~518	Avoid
Dairy Milk	8 oz	~380	Limit to 1/2 pint daily
Prune Juice	8 oz	~689	Avoid
Pomegranate Juice	8 oz	~533	Avoid

General Tips for Managing Dietary Potassium

Managing potassium levels extends beyond beverages to encompass your entire diet. Here are some additional strategies to consider:

Leach High-Potassium Foods: For certain vegetables like potatoes and carrots, a process called leaching can reduce potassium content. This involves peeling, slicing, soaking the vegetables in warm water for at least two hours, rinsing, and then boiling them in plenty of fresh, unsalted water.
Drain Canned Goods: When using canned fruits, vegetables, or meats, always drain and rinse them to remove excess potassium that has leached into the liquid.
Avoid Salt Substitutes: Many salt substitutes are made with potassium chloride, which significantly increases potassium intake and should be avoided. Use herbs, spices, lemon juice, and other seasonings instead.
Control Portion Sizes: Even with low-potassium foods, portion control is crucial. Consuming large quantities of a low-potassium food can still result in a high potassium load.

The Critical Role of Medical Guidance

While dietary adjustments are a key part of managing hyperkalemia, they should always be made under the supervision of a healthcare professional. A doctor or registered dietitian can provide personalized advice based on your specific health needs and the severity of your condition. They can help you craft a meal plan that is safe and effective. In some cases, medication such as diuretics may be prescribed to help flush excess potassium from the body.

Conclusion

Making informed choices about what you drink is a fundamental step in controlling high potassium levels. By opting for low-potassium beverages like water, limiting intake of teas and specific juices, and avoiding high-potassium drinks like orange juice and milkshakes, you can help manage your dietary intake. Combining these smart beverage choices with other dietary strategies and regular medical supervision is the most effective approach to maintaining healthy potassium levels. For further guidance on low-potassium diets, you can consult resources such as the National Kidney Foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

While staying hydrated is crucial, simply drinking more water is not a clear solution for lowering potassium. For some conditions like dehydration, it can help stabilize electrolyte balance, but it will not actively flush excess potassium. Prescription medications like diuretics are often used for this purpose under medical supervision.

High-potassium juices that should be avoided or strictly limited include orange juice, prune juice, pomegranate juice, and most vegetable juice cocktails.

Yes, but in moderation. It is generally recommended to limit coffee to no more than one 8-ounce cup per day to avoid excess potassium intake.

For those on a potassium-restricted diet, cow's milk and yogurt should typically be limited to a total of about half a pint (300ml) per day.

No, some juices are low in potassium and can be included in a restricted diet in moderation. Safe options often include apple, cranberry, grape, and pineapple juice, but always check the label.

Herbal teas are generally considered low in potassium, similar to regular tea. However, some herbal supplements often used in teas, like American ginseng or licorice root, are high in potassium and should be avoided.

When selecting drinks, check the nutritional information for the potassium content per serving. Also, look at the ingredients list to avoid hidden sources like potassium chloride, which is sometimes used as a salt substitute.