Which food should a nurse recommend to a client prescribed furosemide to help maintain potassium levels?

Furosemide is a loop diuretic that promotes the excretion of water and electrolytes, including potassium, from the body. Patients taking furosemide often face the risk of hypokalemia, or low potassium levels, as a common side effect. Therefore, it's important to recommend foods that are high in potassium to help maintain adequate levels in the body.

Bananas are well-known for their high potassium content, making them an ideal recommendation for someone needing to boost their potassium intake. One medium-sized banana contains about 422 mg of potassium, which is significant compared to many other fruits and vegetables. Consuming potassium-rich foods can help mitigate the loss caused by the diuretic effect of furosemide.

In contrast, while liver, apples, and cabbage may contain some potassium, they do not provide nearly as much as bananas do. This is why bananas stand out as the best option for someone prescribed furosemide. By incorporating bananas into their diet, the patient can help manage their potassium levels more effectively while undergoing treatment with this diuretic.