Low Potassium Diet Plan

Potassium is a type of mineral that is very essential for the health and proper functioning of the human body. It is a necessary factor for the nervous system, heart and the kidneys to function properly. It is very important to eat foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc to maintain a normal level of potassium in the body. When we eat food, the kidney helps in retaining the required level of potassium in the blood, by throwing out the excess potassium from the body through urine. However, it is seen that people who have kidney diseases and diabetes have a high potassium levels in their body, which can prove very dangerous to their health. So, it is important for such people to follow a low potassium diet plan to maintain a normal potassium level in the body.

Effects of High Potassium
The normal level of potassium that should be present in the blood is 3.5 mEq/l. When this goes beyond 6 mEq/L, it is considered a serious issue. Hyperkalemia is the condition that occurs when the potassium level in a person's body goes beyond the normal level. Usually, a person may not observe any overt symptoms of high potassium. However, the signs that are associated with hyperkalemia are muscle weakness, tickling in the arms and feet and sometimes paralysis too. If this is not detected at an early stage, it can also lead to a heart attack which can be life threatening.

Low Potassium Diet
The usual amount of potassium intake for people in general is 4 grams i.e. 4,000 milligrams everyday. However, a person detected with high level of potassium should not consume it beyond 2-3 grams a day, which comes to the range of 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams. To avoid the dangerous effects of high potassium in the body, it is very important to eat potassium low foods. However, this can be a little difficult as most foods that we eat have potassium in them. So, a possible solution for this would be to consume food in moderation.

Low Potassium Food Choices
The best low potassium diet plan is to restrict the consumption of the food we eat every day. Once a person is diagnosed with hyperkalemia, the doctor or nutritionist would chart out a proper diet plan. As almost all foods contain potassium, one would have to consume everything in very less quantities.

It is very important to consume foods like fruits, vegetables, meat and nuts in moderation. People with high potassium should not eat more than ½ a cup of these foods everyday. Some spices and condiments that contain potassium should be totally restricted from the diet. It is also essential to stop taking salt substitutes because they have more of potassium instead of sodium. If you are buying packed food, do not forget to check the label to see if it contains potassium or not. Foods that contain artificial sweeteners should also be avoided.

Milk and milk products carry large amounts of potassium and so it is necessary to keep consumption of these items to less than ½ a cup. Certain foods like chocolates, molasses and beverages should be taken out of one's diet completely. Some fruits like nectarines, banana, avocado, honeydew, etc are rich in potassium and should be totally avoided. Even vegetables like sweet potatoes, tomato paste, baked potatoes, dried beans, peas, etc. should not be consumed.

Potassium Low Foods
Certain foods that can be eaten when a person is diagnosed with high potassium in the body include -

• Grains: white rice, pasta, bread
• Fruits: pears, pineapple, apple, grapes, peach, strawberries
• Vegetables: eggplant, spinach, asparagus, green peppers, zucchini, cucumber, alfalafa sprouts
• Others: coffee, turkey, eggs and chicken

Even these foods, though they are low in potassium should be consumed in moderation because it is said that too much intake of these can also lead to a high level of potassium. There are also certain tips to lessen the level of potassium in the food before cooking. One thing a person can do is soak the vegetables in unsalted water two hours before cooking, and also cook them in unsalted water.

People found with a high level of potassium in the body should strictly follow a low potassium diet plan. It is important to control the level of potassium in the body, to avoid severe health problems in the future.