Nowadays, many people follow specific diets to address different health issues, such as a low-potassium diet for those with kidney problems. Followers of such a diet have to know the potassium content of everything they eat, and bananas are known for their high potassium content.
But how much potassium do bananas contain? And can they be safely eaten by those with kidney troubles or potassium sensitivity?
Table of Contents
- Are Bananas High in Potassium?
- How Much Potassium Is in Bananas?
- Nutritional Facts: 1 Small Banana (3.5 oz/101 g)
- Which Has More Potassium, Banana or Avocado?
- Which Has More Potassium, Banana or Apple?
- Which Has More Potassium, Banana or Potato?
- Can You Get Too Much Potassium from Bananas?
- Can You Eat Bananas on a Low-Potassium Diet?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Are Bananas High in Potassium?
Bananas are high in potassium, with a small banana containing almost 10% of the recommended daily intake. That's much more potassium than an apple, pineapple, orange, or a grapefruit but less than an avocado, pomegranate, or dates.
How Much Potassium Is in Bananas?
A small banana contains around 362 mg of potassium, around 10% of the recommended daily intake. Bananas are one of several high-potassium fruits that people following a low-potassium diet should be aware of.
Can You Check Your Potassium Level at Home?
Nutritional Facts: 1 Small Banana (3.5 oz/101 g)
- Calories: 90
- Total Fat: 0.3 g 0%
- Saturated fat: 0.1 g 0%
- Cholesterol: 0 mg 0%
- Sodium: 1 mg 0%
- Potassium: 361.6 mg 10%
- Total Carbohydrate: 23 g 7%
- Dietary fiber: 2.6 g 10%
- Sugar: 12 g
- Protein: 1.1 g 2%
- Vitamin C: 14%
- Calcium: 0%
- Iron: 1%
- Vitamin D: 0%
- Vitamin B6: 20%
- Vitamin B12: 0%
- Magnesium: 6%
Which Has More Potassium, Banana or Avocado?
Avocado has the highest potassium content among fruits, with 100 grams containing 485 mg, around 13% of the recommended daily intake.
| 100 g | Banana | Avocado |
| Calories | 89 | 160 |
| Carbohydrates | 23 g | 9 g |
| Protein | 1.1 g | 2 g |
| Fat | 0.3 g | 15 g |
| Fiber | 2.6 g | 7 g |
| Potassium | 358 mg | 485 mg |
| Vitamin C (%DV) | 14% | 16% |
| Vitamin B6 (%DV) | 20% | 15% |
| Vitamin B12 (%DV) | 0% | 0% |
| Calcium (%DV) | 0% | 1% |
| Iron (%DV) | 1% | 3% |
| Magnesium (%DV) | 6% | 7% |
| Vitamin D (%DV) | 0% | 0% |
Which Has More Potassium, Banana or Apple?
Banana contains three times as much potassium, with 100 grams of apple containing only 107 mg, 3% of the recommended daily intake.
Somewhat surprisingly, bananas also have more vitamin C than apples, along with more vitamin B6 and magnesium.
| 100 g | Banana | Apple |
| Calories | 89 | 52 |
| Carbohydrates | 23 g | 14 g |
| Protein | 1.1 g | 0.3 g |
| Fat | 0.3 g | 0.2 g |
| Fiber | 2.6 g | 2.4 g |
| Potassium | 358 mg | 107 mg |
| Vitamin C (%DV) | 14% | 7% |
| Vitamin B6 (%DV) | 20% | 0% |
| Vitamin B12 (%DV) | 0% | 0% |
| Calcium (%DV) | 0% | 0% |
| Iron (%DV) | 1% | 0% |
| Magnesium (%DV) | 6% | 1% |
| Vitamin D (%DV) | 0% | 0% |
Which Has More Potassium, Banana or Potato?
Potatoes contain more potassium than banana at 421 mg vs. 358 mg per 3.5 oz (100 g) serving. They're also higher in vitamin C and iron but have fewer calories and carbs.
| 100 g | Banana | Potato |
| Calories | 89 | 77 |
| Carbohydrates | 23 g | 17 g |
| Protein | 1.1 g | 2 g |
| Fat | 0.3 g | 0.1 g |
| Fiber | 2.6 g | 2.2 g |
| Potassium | 358 mg | 421 mg |
| Vitamin C (%DV) | 14% | 32% |
| Vitamin B6 (%DV) | 20% | 15% |
| Vitamin B12 (%DV) | 0% | 0% |
| Calcium (%DV) | 0% | 1% |
| Iron (%DV) | 1% | 4% |
| Magnesium (%DV) | 6% | 5% |
| Vitamin D (%DV) | 0% | 0% |
Can You Get Too Much Potassium from Bananas?
The potassium in a small banana represents between 12 and 18% of the recommended daily intake for someone following a low-potassium diet of 2,000 to 3,000 mg daily. Therefore, it's certainly possible to get too much potassium from bananas for people on this diet.
Can You Eat Bananas on a Low-Potassium Diet?
Low-potassium dieters should eat at most a couple of small pieces of banana daily, if that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bananas were once recommended for diarrhea as part of the BRAT food group, and the fiber in bananas adds bulk and firmness to the stool.
According to the EPA, bananas are slightly radioactive due to their high potassium content. However, each banana emits only 0.01 millirem of radiation, a tiny amount.
You'd need to eat 100 bananas to get the same dosage you get every day from background environmental radiation in the U.S.
One small banana contains around 10% of the recommended daily fiber intake. That's more than potatoes, apples, pineapples, and oranges but less than avocadoes, pears, or raspberries
Conclusion
Bananas are high in potassium, so they are a great addition to the diets of those seeking to increase their potassium intake. However, those on a low-potassium diet should tread with caution.
Don't know which foods are high in potassium? Read our article, 15 Best Food Sources of Potassium. We also have a guide to this important mineral: Potassium 101: All You Need To Know About Potassium.
Source: USDA