A low-potassium diet involves restricting potassium-rich foods throughout the day. Your doctor will probably recommend that you try a low-potassium diet if, for example, you have high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia) or if you have kidney disease. Limiting the amount of potassium you consume in your nutrition can be a smart way to treat those situations and avoid other health problems.
Potassium is a mineral that you get from food that your body uses to:
Your kidneys are to blame for maintaining a healthy amount of potassium in your body. If they don’t work properly, you may end up getting too much or too little. If your blood has too little potassium, it can cause an abnormal central heartbeat. Your muscles may also feel weak. If you have too much potassium in your blood, it can cause muscle weakness, paralysis, central palpitations, and burning or tingling sensations in your arms, legs, hands, and feet.
When your kidneys are working well, they balance the potassium levels in your body. Any excess is thrown into the urine so that you can eliminate it when you urinate. When your blood has high levels of potassium, your kidneys can’t either. You can help your kidneys by reducing the amount of potassium you eat in the food you eat.
Your doctor may recommend that you restrict your potassium intake if you have the following medical conditions:
Some medicines can also prevent your body from getting rid of excess potassium. These include:
Most foods contain potassium. To keep levels low or eat less than one cup per day of these potassium-rich foods:
Fruits rich in potassium:
Vegetables rich in potassium:
Other foods in potassium:
Potassium-rich drinks:
Rich in potassium and herbs.
If you suffer from any physical condition, especially kidney disease, you should be careful with supplements and herbs. Some herbs involve potassium or are your kidneys.
Herbs that involve potassium or can be your kidneys include:
The serving size of these low-potassium foods is 1/2 cup. Be careful not to overdo it, as too many low-potassium foods make them potassium-rich foods.
Fruits low in potassium:
Vegetables low in potassium:
Others low in potassium:
Low-potassium drinks:
What does a low-potassium diet look like?
On a low-potassium diet, try to eat no more than 2000 to 3000 milligrams of potassium per day. (People without fitness disorders typically try to eat about 4,700 milligrams. )The exact amount of potassium you want to consume depends on your height. and weight.
Depending on your needs, low-potassium nutrition looks like this:
Most of the strategies you use to cook food can affect your potassium levels. Like what:
Like any replacement you make to your eating habits, it will take some time to get used to a low-potassium diet. These can help.
Make a list. It may take some time to know which foods are high in potassium and which are not. Ask your doctor for a list. This can be done when you buy groceries or go out to dinner.
Watch the length of your portions. A food that is low in potassium may temporarily be high in potassium if you eat a lot. Keep an eye on your quantities. Some amounts may be smaller than you think. For example, a portion of bird is about the length of the palm of your hand.
Read food labels. Check the nutrition facts on the package to find out how much potassium is in a food. Try to eat foods that contain no more than one hundred milligrams of potassium per serving.
Plan ahead. If you know you’re going out to dinner and need to enjoy potassium-rich foods, try to eat low-potassium foods throughout the day before your meal at the restaurant.
Rethink your cooking methods. Boiling helps extract potassium from some vegetables. You can also try blanching. They are boiled for 1 minute, then drained and rinsed. They can then be used in a stir-fry, soup, or casserole.
Avoid certain liquids. Canned fruit and vegetable juices, as well as cooked meats, contain high amounts of potassium. Avoid drinking them or including them in recipes as much as possible.
Avoid “fake” salt. If you follow a low-potassium diet, you should avoid low-sodium salt or other “fake” salts. Instead, season your food with herbs and spices.
Get support. If you would like to plan your meals or locate food swaps, please contact a dietitian or nutritionist. Your doctor may refer you to one.
Too much potassium in the blood does not cause symptoms, but it can damage the heart. For some people, it can even be life-threatening. Low-potassium nutrition can play a key role in treating hyperkalemia and preventing those serious problems. Follow your doctor’s recommendations about what to eat and how much, and be sure to get your blood work done as scheduled. Your doctor will need to monitor your potassium levels closely.
A low-potassium diet involves limiting the amount of potassium you eat during the day. Your doctor will probably recommend that you try a low-potassium diet if, for example, you have high levels of potassium in your blood (hyconsistent with calemia). or if you have kidney disease. There are many low-potassium foods that you can consume in your diet. You can also reduce the potassium levels of certain foods by soaking or cooking them in water.
Can I eat eggs on a low potassium diet?
Yes, eggs are a food low in potassium. A giant egg contains about 63 milligrams of potassium. The National Kidney Foundation states that eggs are a smart source of protein that is low in sodium and potassium. If you have kidney disease, check with your doctor how many eggs you can eat, as eggs are also a smart source of phosphorus, which you might want to limit as well.
Can drinking a lot of water have potassium?
While it’s true that drinking a lot of water can lower your blood potassium levels, it’s not a way to do it. This is because drinking a lot of water not only decreases your potassium levels, but affects all of your nutrient levels. To stay healthy, eat foods low in potassium and drink 8 to 12 ounces of water a day.
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