Chronic kidney disease is a serious condition that occurs when your kidneys cannot filter the way they are supposed to. There are many situations that can cause kidney disease and there are various stages of this condition. Making dietary changes such as watching your potassium intake is an important step in managing CKD. Given the serious nature of CKD, check with your doctor on how much potassium you need.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Your kidneys control the level of fluid in your body by excreting excess fluid through urination. The kidneys also filter fluids, including your blood, to remove waste products. When the kidneys are not working properly, waste products can build up and make you sick. While there are many causes of CKD, having high blood pressure and/or diabetes are the two most common, says MedlinePlus. Kidney disease often occurs with no symptoms in the early stages and then can take months or years to get worse. After being diagnosed, you will need to have the levels of many electrolytes, including potassium, tested regularly.
Potassium and the Kidneys
Along with regulating fluid balance and removing wastes, your kidneys also regulate the amount of potassium circulating in the blood by removing excess. If the kidneys lose their ability to filter properly, potassium levels may get too high and in the later stages of kidney disease, high potassium levels can cause complications, notes the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Hyperkalemia or too much potassium in the blood can lead to irregular heart rhythms, nausea, muscle weakness, numbness and tingling in various areas of your body and in severe cases it can contribute to a heart attack.
Daily Allowance
After being diagnosed, your physician will recommend a safe potassium intake amount. The amount will be based on the severity of your CKD and your overall health. It will be necessary to test your potassium levels regularly to see if the diet is working and if the results are 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L, you are OK; if the results are between 5.1 to 6.0 mEq/L, you need to use caution with your diet and when your level reaches over 6.0 mEq/L, it is considered dangerously high.
Low-Potassium Diet
Many foods contain potassium, so you will need to work closely with your doctor or registered dietitian to find the right plan. Avoid high-potassium foods such as apricots, dates, melons, oranges, artichokes, beets, potatoes and spinach, suggests the University of Michigan. Soy milk, yogurt, dried peas, beans and bran are also high in potassium. Instead, choose apples, berries, cranberries, grapes, cauliflower, corn, eggplant, lettuce and mushrooms. You can also leach foods to help remove some of the potassium from them. Because each person is different, it may take some trial and error to find the right diet to keep your potassium levels in check.
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