Low Potassium Diet

Low potassium diet is necessary when the potassium levels in your blood are too high and the kidneys are not functioning as they should, to eliminate excess potassium in urine.

High potassium in the blood is called hyperkalemia ( hyper=high kal=potassium, emia=in the blood). Hyperkalemia may be caused by an underlying condition such as diabetes or kidney disease.

Potassium:

• For balancing the pH of your body, digestion and metabolism.

• For the brain and a healthy nervous system.

• It is found in a variety of foods like fruits, vegetables, milk and meat. Most people get the potassium they need from a healthy diet.

• Potassium level in your blood cells is measured by a blood test and a healthy blood potassium level is 3.5-5.0 mmol/litre.

Low potassium- hypokalemia symptoms, although usually mild and vague, include numbness, fatigue, constipation, irregular heartbeat, cramping, weak muscles, depression or hallucinations, vomiting and nausea.

To treat, you may need to change a medication that is affecting your potassium level or you may need to take potassium supplements, but talk to your doctor first.

High potassium- hyperkalemia can be more serious as it is caused by an underlying health problem such as kidney disease or diabetes. Mild hyperkalemia generally doesn't have any signs or symptoms. Moderate hyperkalemia sypmtoms include fatigue, nausea, muscle weakness and tingling sensations and severe hyperkalemia may cause weak or absent pulse. Complications can be severe too, such as heart failure, heart attack and paralysis.

Low Potassium Diet Plan:

• Choose water, tea, dry white wine, squash or spirits over fruit and vegetable juices, milk, coffee, smoothies, chocolate drinks and fortified wines.

• Don't overeat high potassium fruits and vegetables like raisins, apricots, dates, oranges, bananas, watermelon, honeydew, kiwi, avocado, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, potatoes, greens, tomatoes and spinach.

• Avoid high potassium snacks, such as chocolate, toffee, crisps and nuts.

• Boil your vegetables and potatoes before eating or cooking further as potassium dissolves in water and throw away the water.

• All meats, fish, chicken and turkey are high in potassium and you should eat them sparingly.

• Even low potassium foods should be consumed in moderation, too much intake of these can also lead to high levels of potassium.

• A low potassium diet contains less than 2000 mg of potassium per day.

Low potassium foods include: Cucumber, eggplant, green beans, lettuce, onion, sweet peppers, carrots, cabbage, rice milk, jelly beans, unsalted popcorn, plain doughnuts, red licorice, apples, berries, canned peaches, lemon, grapes, pineapple and plums.




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