If you are a chronically ill kidney patient, you are familiar with the routine blood work that your nephrologist orders. These laboratory orders include tests for serum potassium and serum phosphorus. As kidneys fail, they are less able to regulate levels of these minerals in your blood. Levels often become elevated as patients approach end-stage disease. If this occurs, your nephrologist will probably recommend a low potassium and low phosphorus diet.
Potassium
Potassium is a positively charged electrolyte involved in the transmission of nervous impulses. The normal concentration in your blood is between 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. If levels start to edge up past 5.0, nerves fire erratically and cause irregular heartbeats. This can be prevented by a low potassium diet.
Low-Potassium Diet
Low-potassium diets can be difficult because potassium is so prevalent that it's even found in tap water. Moreover, since the law does not require companies to disclose potassium content, it's next to impossible to gauge whether a food has too much potassium unless you consult a potassium counter, such as the online database provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Many otherwise healthy foods, such as squash, orange juice, avocado, cantaloupe and berries, must be eaten very sparingly because they are high in potassium.
Phosphorus
One percent of your body is made of phosphorus. This chemical is an important component of bones and teeth. Normal levels are 3.5 to 5.5 mg/dL. If serum levels edge up past 5.5, the excess phosphorus begins to leach calcium from bone, causing permanent weakness. This is particularly dangerous because other issues related to kidney disease also threaten the health of bones.
Low Phosphorus Diet
High phosphorus foods include milk, cheese, beer, chocolate, dried beans, dried peas and bran. Nondairy creamer can be enormously helpful if you have to follow a low phosphorus regimen because it can be used in coffee and in making custardlike deserts. Most nephrologists routinely prescribe a type of drug called a phosphate binder. If taken when you eat, these drugs bind to dietary phosphorus and prevent it from leaching calcium.
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