Kidney Disease and Potassium

Our kidneys are bound to filter 120-150 quarts of blood each day and producing two to three quarts of urine or waste out of them. They also help keep electrolyte and minerals such as sodium, phosphate, potassium at stable levels. This happens in the case of healthy kidneys having adequate renal function. But when the kidneys have diminished function, they are unable to regulate potassium. The result can be dangerous levels of potassium in the blood and even some medications that are used to treat kidney disease also increases potassium level.

Having a high potassium level is not something that develops within a day rather develops slowly over weeks or months. High potassium level in the body also adds to a number of complications, including, chest pain, breathing issues, and heart palpitations.

How much potassium you should take each day

Individuals with healthy kidneys need approx 4700 mg of potassium in their one day meal. However, people with CKD should take around 1,500 to 2,500 mg of potassium every day. However, the doctor uses a simple blood test to check the potassium level in the body. With the help of a blood test, the monthly levels of potassium millimoles per liter of blood (mmol/L) are classified as:  

• Safe level: 3.5 to 5.0 mmol/L
• Cautious level: 5.1 to 6.0 mmol/L
• Danger zone: 6.0 mmol/L or above

Work with your doctor and learn how much potassium you should take on a daily basis according to the severity of your condition. 

Signs of high potassium in the body

Individuals with a high potassium level of hyperkalemia usually do not always have symptoms, so it is necessary to get diagnosed frequently, however, the symptoms that still you should look for are:

• Fatigue body
• Weakness
• Numbness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chest pain
• Irregular pulse rate
• Low heartbeat

Ways to minimize potassium build up

The best way to reduce potassium build up is to carefully look at your potassium indigestion. To do that, you will need to watch for foods high in potassium and which are low. Make sure to read the nutritional labels on food before buying them. 

Apart from what you eat what counts is how much you are eating. Keep control on the portion of potassium in your kidney-friendly diet. Even if you are having a low potassium food several times a day, this can also spike up your potassium level.

Foods that you can add to your renal diet

Foods serving 200 mgs or less are considered low in potassium, these foods include:

• Berries, such as blueberries
• apples
• grapefruit
• pineapple
• cranberries and cranberry juice
• white pasta
• cauliflower
• broccoli
• green beans
• eggplant
• white rice
• white bread
• salmon

While foods that should be limited and eaten in small quantities are:

• Potatoes and sweet potatoes
• Pumpkin
• Brown rice
• Milk
• Chicken
• Tuna
• Low-sodium cheese
• Dried apricots
• Orange and juice
• Prunes
• Raisins
• Bananas
• Avocados
• Tomato
• Lentils
• Spinach
• Peas
• Spinach

How to draw potassium from fruits and vegetables

The potassium in canned fruits and vegetables can add to the problem hence, if you can, swap for their fresh counterparts or alternatively, soak them in the water if possible. If you are cooking a dish that needs high-potassium vegetable as an ingredient, you can reduce the potassium from the veggies by:

• Peel the veggie and let it soak in the cold water for a  while
• Cut the vegetable into 1/ 8-inch parts
• Rinse it with warm water
• Again soak them in warm water for at least 2 hours and if you wish to soak veggies for a long time, then make sure to change the water after every hour.
• Now, you can cook the vegetable with five times the amount of water in the vegetable

The Takeaway

With chronic kidney disease, it is important to reduce potassium intake in your day-to-day life. The dietary needs continue to sift and require monitoring if the disease progresses. 

Besides, you must consult a renal dietician who can teach you how to look for nutrition labels, watch nutrient intake, and plan meals accordingly. Also, ask your doctor about how much fluid you can take in each day as this may tax your kidneys.

Further, if you need more information about kidney disease and dietary plan, then consult Doctor Puneet Dhawan, an ayurvedic kidney specialist in Delhi!