Potassium
Intake model: one reported food record, food date unconfirmed. References: man aged 19–30. How to read the references.
No change indicated. The food estimate supplies substantial potassium; no potassium-directed addition follows. Renal/medication context is unreported and this is not a safety certification.
Linked eating record; usual intake and clinical status unestablished · Reviewed 2026-10-10
Intake confidence: Moderate. Quantity confidence: Limited. Body status: Unassessed.
FDA values describe food labels.
Potassium
7,017 mg available-value subtotal from food; some foods are unquantified.
| Recommended intake | Upper reference | Food label reference |
|---|---|---|
| 3,400 mg (AI) US National Academies · Food and oral supplements | Not established US National Academies · Food and oral supplements | 4,700 mg (DV) FDA · Adults and children 4+ |
Other authority and form-specific references
- 3,500 mg/day (AI)
EFSA · Adult men and womenSeparate from US male AI 3,400 mg and FDA DV 4,700 mg; not an upper bound or reason to increase the current estimated diet.
No UL is established for apparently healthy people. Kidney disease and some medications alter how potassium is handled.
Food contributions and uncertainty
Values are available for 12 of 13 recorded foods. The displayed number is an available-value subtotal. Product identity and portion assumptions still limit accuracy.
The saved portion/recipe scenarios span 6,880–7,270 mg. This is a sensitivity range, not a confidence interval; uncertain food composition and unreported foods can fall outside it.
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| Food | Model portion | Contribution | Source basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trader Joe's European style organic plain nonfat yogurt | 907 g reported | 2,081 mg | Online label; package unverified |
| Banana | 472 g reported | 1,690 mg | Generic USDA comparator |
| Hass avocado | 150 g assumed | 728 mg | Generic USDA comparator |
| RT RT roast chicken meat and skin | 299 g estimated | 667 mg | Generic USDA comparator |
| Large beefsteak tomato | 182 g assumed | 431 mg | Generic USDA comparator |
| Crown Prince Natural Skinless boneless sardines in olive oil | 80 g assumed | 376 mg | Label %DV conversion |
| Red bell pepper | 150 g assumed | 317 mg | Generic USDA comparator |
| Raspberries | 170 g assumed | 257 mg | Generic USDA comparator |
| Navel orange | 140 g assumed | 232 mg | Generic USDA comparator |
| Trader Joe's Organic basmati rice frozen | 283 g reported | 99 mg | Generic USDA comparator |
| Trader Joe's Organic raw almonds | 15 g estimated | 74 mg | Reported package label |
| Raw English walnuts | 15 g assumed | 66 mg | Generic USDA comparator |
Unquantified: RT RT chimichurri.
Role, reference and the absence of a universal ceiling
Potassium is a major intracellular electrolyte involved in nerve signaling and muscle contraction. The US AI for men aged 19–30 is 3,400 mg/day; the FDA label Daily Value is 4,700 mg, a different reference. There is no established US UL for apparently healthy people, and no potassium CDRR. These facts do not establish unlimited safety. Kidney function and medications that impair potassium excretion materially change the interpretation. NIH potassium fact sheet
Where the apparently high amount comes from
The latest available-value total is about 7,017 mg. Its largest contributors are:
| Food in the saved calculation | Estimated potassium |
|---|---|
| Nonfat yogurt, confirmed whole 907 g tub | 2,081 mg |
| Four medium bananas | 1,690 mg |
| Avocado, assumed 150 g flesh | 728 mg |
| Half chicken, estimated edible meat and skin | 667 mg |
| Large tomato, assumed 182 g | 431 mg |
The remaining produce, rice, nuts and fish also contribute. The yogurt value is a provisional online label; the chicken and produce use generic composition and estimated or assumed edible portions. Chimichurri potassium is missing. The saved 6,880–7,270 mg range changes selected portions; it is not a statistical confidence interval for food composition, or a prediction of blood potassium.
The simple explanation is that this pattern contains a large quantity of yogurt plus four bananas and several potassium-containing foods. Potassium does not come only from bananas. It is unsurprising for these foods to supply more potassium by mass than the known sodium subtotal, especially when restaurant sodium is unquantified.
What this changes
The attention flag is No change indicated, meaning no potassium-directed food addition follows from this estimate. This is a food-pattern judgment, not a certification that this amount is safe in every medical context. Renal status, medications and clinical potassium status are unreported. If the yogurt portion is smaller, or fruit changes, the intake estimate should change with it rather than carrying forward the whole tub.
There is no case here for adding potassium pills or choosing a potassium-based salt substitute to improve a nutrient score. The existing foods can be adjusted for appetite, enjoyment and total meal size; reaching twice an AI is not an optimization objective.
What outcome research establishes
Clinical outcome evidence changed both sodium and potassium. The electrolyte investigation explains why that trial does not establish a need to add potassium here.
NIH's assessment describes stronger blood-pressure responses in hypertension and less consistent findings among people without hypertension. It also notes that excess potassium can become dangerous when excretion is impaired; potassium-containing supplements and salt substitutes warrant a different decision from ordinary food choices. NIH potassium evidence and safety sections
The unresolved question is not whether more potassium can be fitted into tomorrow's bag. It is whether the whole pattern remains comfortable and enjoyable, and whether the assumed quantities accurately describe what was eaten.