Potassium is a mineral that is found in many foods. The amount of potassium in the body is regulated by the kidneys, which control how much potassium is excreted in the urine. If the kidneys are not able to effectively lower your potassium levels, however, the amount of potassium in your blood may rise, causing hyperkalemia. This can lead to a number of medical problems, such as muscle spasms, cramps and irregular heart beat. If you have kidney problems or if you have been consuming a diet that is unusually high in potassium, you need to make some steps to lower your potassium intake.
Step 1
Drink more water. Drinking more water will increase your blood volume, which will dilute the potassium in your blood. This is especially helpful if you are dehydrated, because dehydration can exacerbate hyperkalemia, the University of Maryland Medical Center says.
Step 2
Substitute foods that are low in potassium for high-potassium foods. Lentils, bananas, milk, potatoes, nuts, peaches watermelon and tomatoes are all examples of foods that are high in potassium. Avoid these foods, and consume more low-potassium foods. Low-potassium foods include avocados, dates, figs, kiwis, oranges, pears and nectarines, FatFreeKitchen says. Many commercially available juices or canned fruits and vegetables are also high in potassium, so choose fresh food items instead. If you do eat canned food items, reduce the amount of potassium you consume by draining and washing the food first, according to UpToDate.
Step 3
Prepare foods in a way that reduces their potassium content. Boiling vegetables in large amounts of unsalted water followed by draining and discarding the liquid can help reduce their potassium content, the University of California, San Francisco states. The amount of potassium in potatoes can also be lowered by peeling and chopping the potatoes into 1-inch cubes and then soaking them overnight in a large pot of unsalted water.
Step 4
Take medications that will lower your potassium. Diuretics, sodium bicarbonate, beta agonists, insulin and potassium-binding resins can all be used to lower potassium levels. Because these are prescription medications that can cause serious side effects, talk with your doctor about the risks of these medications. However, these drugs, when taken regularly, can help lower potassium levels in people who cannot control their potassium through diet alone.
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