{"id":628744,"date":"2024-07-18T09:30:52","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T13:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=628744"},"modified":"2026-03-22T21:04:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T01:04:56","slug":"losartan-and-eating-bananas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/losartan-and-eating-bananas\/","title":{"rendered":"Should you avoid bananas on losartan?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Losartan<\/span><\/a>, or losartan potassium, is a generic medication that is FDA approved to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It\u2019s also available under the brand name <\/span>Cozaar<\/span><\/a>. Losartan is a member of a class of drugs called <\/span>angiotensin II receptor blockers<\/span><\/a> (ARBs). In addition to lowering blood pressure (which in turn lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke), losartan can be used to protect your kidneys if you have kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Losartan can increase your potassium levels. <\/span>Hyperkalemia<\/span><\/a> is a medical condition that occurs when you have too much potassium in the blood. For most people, this isn\u2019t an issue. However, people with certain health conditions need to be cautious when consuming <\/span>potassium-rich foods<\/span><\/a>, like bananas, while taking this medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Should you avoid bananas with losartan?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most people can eat bananas in moderation while taking losartan. \u201cLosartan can increase potassium levels in the blood, and bananas are high in potassium,\u201d explains <\/span>Raj Dasgupta, MD<\/span><\/a>, an internist and professor at the University of Southern California. \u201cIt can become unsafe if you have kidney problems or are taking other medications that also increase potassium levels.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although bananas contain a lot of potassium, <\/span>research<\/span><\/a> finds that even people eating a high-potassium diet could safely take an <\/span>angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor<\/span><\/a> or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), as long as they have normal kidney function.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, people with certain medical conditions should ask their healthcare providers if they need to follow a low-potassium diet while taking losartan, including people who have:<\/span><\/p>\n