Which is the richest source of potassium (500-2000 mg per 100g)?

MNS 2024

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Hard

Appeared in: MNS 2024

Explanation

Dry peas are an exceptionally rich source of potassium, containing approximately 1300 mg per 100g.
This value falls comfortably within the 500-2000 mg/100g range specified in the question.
When comparing all the options that satisfy the given range, dry peas have a higher potassium concentration than both lentils and leafy vegetables.
The option including coffee and tea is invalidated because their potassium content exceeds the stated range, making dry peas the correct answer among the valid choices.

Option A: While leafy vegetables are a good source of many nutrients, including potassium (~550 mg/100g), they are not the 'richest' source compared to legumes like dry peas.
Option B: Lentils are a very good source of potassium (~955 mg/100g) and fit within the specified range, but their concentration is lower than that of dry peas.
Option C: This option is incorrect because two of its components, coffee and tea powder, have potassium levels (greater than 2000 mg/100g) that fall outside the specified range. Although cocoa powder fits the range and is very rich in potassium, the entire option is disqualified by the other components.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Dietary sources of potassium and nutrient density analysis as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Knowledge of high-potassium foods is crucial for nurses providing dietary counseling to patients with conditions like Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), who must limit potassium intake to prevent life-threatening hyperkalemia.
Conversely, nurses may advise patients on potassium-wasting diuretics (e.g., Furosemide) to increase their intake of potassium-rich foods to prevent hypokalemia.
What if? If a patient with end-stage renal disease asks for a high-protein snack, a nurse would advise against dry peas or lentils due to their high potassium and phosphorus content, and instead suggest a more suitable, lower-potassium protein source as per the dietitian's plan.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key components of the question: the nutrient (potassium), the qualifier ('richest source'), and the critical constraint (the range of 500-2000 mg per 100g).
Treat the numerical range as a strict filter. Your first step is to eliminate any options that do not fall within this range.
Recall or deduce the approximate potassium content for each food item listed in the options.
For the combined option 'Coffee, tea, and cocoa', evaluate each component. Note that coffee and tea powders have potassium levels that exceed 2000 mg/100g, which invalidates this option as a whole.
After filtering, compare the potassium content of the remaining valid options (Leafy vegetables, Lentils, Dry peas).
Select the option with the highest potassium value from this filtered list, which is Dry peas.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 46-48