Your potassium level is affected by improperly functioning kidneys. The kidneys remove potassium from the body through urine, and foods you eat replace potassium. You normally need 4,700 mg of potassium for health, but your diet requires less, about 1,500 to 2,700 mg, if the kidneys cannot discard the potassium. Cooking foods a certain way can reduce the amount of potassium in your diet.
Health Conditions Requiring a Low-Potassium Diet
Hyperkalemia, higher-than-normal levels of potassium in the blood, occurs when there's an increase in total body potassium or when the cells release excess potassium into the bloodstream. Hyperkalemia can also be caused by disorders of the kidneys including kidney failure and rejection of a kidney transplant. Certain medications that treat high blood pressure, such as ACE inhibitors and potassium sparing diuretics, may cause hyperkalemia. In addition to chronic kidney disorders, heart failure patients require a low potassium diet as well.
Effects of Too Much Potassium
Potassium is a very important mineral in your body. It helps regulate your heartbeat and muscles, and balances acid and water in the blood and body tissues. Poorly functioning kidneys cannot handle increased intake of potassium. Hyperkalemia usually does not present any noticeable symptoms, but it can cause serious problems including an irregular heartbeat, nausea and a weak pulse, according to MedlinePlus. Eating a lower-potassium diet can reduce the risk of hyperkalemia.
Cooking Tips
Drain water from canned vegetables and cook with a large amount of fresh water. Discard water from cooked vegetables. Choose fresh and frozen vegetables that have no salt added to them. However, soak fresh and frozen vegetables at least one to two hours, or leaching, before cooking to further reduce potassium.
High and Low Potassium Foods
Most foods have potassium. Choose foods that have the lowest amount of potassium. The Cleveland Clinic notes that you should avoid these high-potassium foods: salt substitutes listed as KCl on labels, light salts, coffee, sport drinks, granola bars, molasses, chocolate and fig cookies. Avoid sweetened, canned and frozen fruits and juices, bananas, avocados and citrus fruits such as oranges. Do not eat baked potatoes and acorn or butternut squash, olives and dried beans, peas or lentils. Soy milk and instant breakfast drinks are high in potassium as well.
Low-potassium foods include plain bagels, white rice and bread, oatmeal, blueberries, grapes, grapefruit, strawberries, green beans, cauliflower, cucumbers and lettuce.
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