The drying problem
When fruit is dried, the water evaporates but minerals stay. A 100 g handful of dried fruit may represent 5× that weight of fresh fruit. That makes dried fruit one of the easiest ways to accidentally push potassium into a dangerous range — particularly in stage 4–5 CKD and on dialysis.
Sugar is concentrated too: 100 g raisins = ~ 65 g sugar. Relevant for the ~ 30% of UK CKD patients with diabetes.
Potassium league table (per 100 g)
- Dried apricots — 1,160 mg ❌
- Dried prunes — 730 mg ❌
- Raisins/sultanas — 750 mg ⚠️
- Dried dates — 700 mg ⚠️
- Dried figs — 680 mg ⚠️
- Dried mango — 950 mg ⚠️
- Dried cranberries — 50 mg ✅
- Dried blueberries — 220 mg ✅
Note: a 'small handful' is ~ 30 g — divide values accordingly.
Food first. If you are choosing a daily multivitamin alongside a balanced diet, Kidney Vitality was developed by a UK Consultant Nephrologist using renal nutrition principles. See the formulation.
Portion guidance
- Stage 1–3a: 1 small handful (30 g) of mixed dried fruit, daily.
- Stage 3b–4: 1 tablespoon (15 g) as topping, not a snack.
- Stage 5 / dialysis: prefer dried cranberries/blueberries only; avoid dried apricots, figs, prunes, dates.
- Diabetes: count sugars; pair with protein/fat to slow absorption.
Practical CKD-friendly ideas
- Sprinkle 1 tbsp raisins onto porridge — don't eat from the bag.
- Use dried cranberries in salads instead of raisins.
- Skip 'trail mix' — combines nuts (P, K) and dried fruit (K) heavily.
- In baking, replace half the dried fruit with grated apple or pear to lower K.
- Avoid 'fruit-and-nut chocolate bars' marketed as healthy snacks.
