Low Potassium Diet: Your First Step To A Healthy Life

Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 October 2011 11:12 Written by Natural Health Team Tuesday, 18 October 2011 11:12

Health Information about Low Potassium Diet: Your First Step To A Healthy Life

Kidneys are very important organs of our body because they regulate electrolytes, maintain acid-base balance and act as natural filter of the blood to remove wastes. Because of this, taking care of these organs should be put at the top of everybody’s list. But, there are instances wherein you cannot avoid having a kidney disease. When you already have it, just make sure that you take all the needed measures to avoid further damage to these important organs. That’s why they should follow a low potassium diet.

Potassium is a mineral common in many foods that we usually eat including nuts, seeds, dairy products and various fruits and vegetables. It is needed for muscle function, but could be dangerous to individuals with kidney ailments. Because the kidneys cannot function well, the level of potassium in the blood can increase and this can lead to hyperkalemia. This is the reason why a low potassium diet is required to lower down the risk of developing this disease.

Individuals should know that the normal range of potassium in the blood is between 3.5 to 5 meq/L which means that a level greater than this range is already dangerous. Nutrition experts point out that people with kidney diseases should consume a maximum of 2700 mg of potassium per day and this is the goal of the low potassium diet.

When you are asked by your physician to follow a low potassium diet plan, you should seek the help of a nutritionist or a dietitian to create a meal plan which abides by the guidelines of the diet plan. Only 1-3 servings of fruits that contain low in potassium should be eaten on a daily basis, while vegetables will be 2-3 servings, calcium-rich foods like dairy should be 1-3 servings, grains should be 4-7 and meat and meat alternatives should be 3-7 servings.

You now know the foods that you can eat; it’s time to be introduced to the foods that you should not eat when you want to comply with the low potassium diet. These include apricots, cantaloupe, banana, prune juice, pear orange juice, asparagus, avocado, cooked spinach, potatoes, pumpkin, among others. There are also some nuts and seeds that you should avoid and these include almonds, peanut butter, pecans, sunflower seeds and peanuts.

Meanwhile, there are techniques that you can follow to reduce potassium levels in vegetables. One way is through leaching, a process which involves soaking of vegetables in water for 2 hours before cooking. This is another option that you can follow to supplement your low potassium diet.

Ensuring our health is our number one goal and this is right because going to the hospital can be costly. When you opt to follow a low potassium diet, it means that you are decreasing the chances of developing various diseases. Having an illness, especially if it’s a serious one can cause stress and that’s the reason why we should ensure that we remain healthy as always. We can exercise to stay fit and to be energetic and happy to face the world.

Find More Health Care Articles

« Improve Your Health With Motivation | Best Guide for Those Needing Help Getting Pregnant or Trying to Get Pregnant – Tips for Women Who Need a Little Extra Help Getting Pregnant »