Bottled water is a convenient way to stay hydrated on the go and is especially helpful for those with concerns about the safety of their local drinking water. But some consumers have a severe intolerance for certain elements, such as potassium. What brand should such consumers choose? Are there bottled water brands that are low in potassium?
Aquafina Purified Water, Nestle Pure Life, and Aquahydrate are all brands of bottled water that are low in potassium. This can be especially helpful for consumers with potassium intolerance or who are on specialized diets. Be aware that many bottled water brands may contain potassium while not listing it as an ingredient.
Keep reading to learn which bottled water brands are low in potassium, why you may wish to choose low-potassium water, and how to understand potassium quantities listed on bottled water nutrition labels.
You may enjoy my articles on the 9 types of bottled water and Eliminating PFAS from Drinking Water.
Table of Contents
Are There Low-Potassium Bottled Water Brands?
So which brands are best for those seeking a safe and reliable low-potassium option? Whether you’re hydrating on the go or using bottled water due to unsafe or contaminated local water, here are our top picks for low-potassium bottled water.
Aquafina Purified Water, with its highly rigorous filtration process, contains no potassium per serving or liter. This is because the water is very carefully and mechanically filtered, leaving the consumer with nothing but pure drinking water. Aquafina is a great and high-quality bet for truly low-potassium bottled water and contains no added ingredients.
Nestle Pure Life is another bottled water brand that is excellent for those with potassium sensitivities. It is carefully carbon filtered and processed, and while it contains tiny quantities of sodium, it contains no potassium per serving or liter. Nestle Pure Life is widely available at most supermarkets and is affordable. Use it for drinking, as well as cooking.
Aquahydrate is another fantastic option for those with potassium sensitivities. It is specially filtered and processed and is alkaline in quality. This brand takes special care not to dose their water with potassium, unlike other brands, which filter out and then re-add potassium. Aquahydrate is a unique, high-quality product that delivers great taste and safe hydration without the added potassium. Thanks to its alkaline nature, it’s also ideal for hiking, sports hydration, and biking trips.
You may also wish to buy bottled water that is “distilled,” as this water has gone through a similar process, ensuring that minerals and other properties have been left behind. Distilled water has a very clean, almost bland taste, in contrast with the mineral crispness of other bottled water varieties.
So, who can benefit from low-potassium bottled water brands, and who are these brands for? Are there conditions a person might have that would make low-potassium water ideal?
The following table list the potassium concentration of bottled water.
| Brand | Concentration of Potassium (mg/L) |
| Aquafina Purified Water | 0 |
| Glaceau Smart Water | 0 |
| Nestle Pure Life Purified Water | 0 |
| AQUAhydrate Electrolyte Enhanced Water | 0 |
| Just Water | 1 |
| Evian Water | 1 |
| VOSS | 1 |
| Waiakea | 1 |
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Who are Low-Potassium Bottled Water Brands Best For?
While most bottled water is going to be safe for all consumers, those with potassium sensitivity are at risk of serious illness if they consume higher levels of potassium. A mineral or compound which benefits others can seriously sicken those with sensitivities.
Those with kidney ailments may find that their bodies store as opposed to process potassium, and as a result, they need to limit potassium intake. Too much of an otherwise neutral or beneficial property can poison a person, and potassium is no exception.
Individuals who are on certain kidney medications often need to severely limit potassium intake, as their kidneys retain higher than normal levels of potassium, and any extra quantities of the element can cause serious illness.
An excess of potassium in the body is known as “hyperkalemia,” and symptoms of this condition include:
- Muscle weakness
- Nerve damage
- Nausea and vomiting
- Heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing
While most hyperkalemia symptoms are mild and manifest as muscle weakness, others can be severe or life-threatening, especially if the condition is allowed to continue without being addressed. This can make buying bottled water frustrating, as one would assume that “pure” means “pure.” Why would bottled water contain potassium, anyway?
Why Does Some Bottled Water Contain Potassium?
Most natural bottled spring water contains trace amounts of potassium. This may not be reflected on the bottle’s label, but for those with serious potassium sensitivity, it can be a concern, especially if you consume multiple bottles per day.
This is because natural sources of water typically contain trace amounts of minerals and elements, and water derived from these natural sources tends to have small amounts of potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and other naturally occurring properties.
While natural spring water is touted as healthy and optimal, for those with certain mineral sensitivities, it may not be the safest choice. Water that has been purified by man-made means that can filter out even tiny, naturally occurring quantities of potassium are safest for those with sensitivities and intolerances.
So why aren’t tiny quantities of potassium reflected on the nutrition labeling? If a bottle of water contains less than 1 mg of a certain element per serving, packagers don’t necessarily have to label it. So, a product that contains 1 mg of potassium per liter may contain 0.3 mg of potassium per bottle. This goes unreported, however, as it is below government ingredient reporting limits and is listed as “0.0 mg” of potassium.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a brand of bottled water that is low on potassium, the best brands include Aquafina, Nestle Pure Life, and Aquahydrate. All of these brands of bottled water are carefully distilled and filtered and contain 0 mg of potassium per liter.
Those with kidney disease or who are on certain medications may find that their bodies store as opposed to process potassium, and this leads to an excess of potassium in the system. This condition, known as “hyperkalemia,” can cause muscle weakness, nerve damage, and even nausea, heart problems, and difficulty breathing.
While most bottled water is labeled as containing “0 mg” of potassium, this is not always technically true. Quantities of potassium that are lower than 1.0 mg per serving may not be listed on a bottle’s label. Thus it is important to be sure that your bottled water is distilled, filtered, and contains no added potassium, and to avoid natural spring water whenever possible.