Techniques for reducing potassium in patients with chronic kidney disease

Browse By

Potassium is certainly an important food source for the body. But not for kidney disease patients who should receive it in limited amounts or avoid it!

Potassium is a mineral that is essential for the body. It plays an important role in helping the body function normally. It is a mineral that helps control the nervous system and muscles. Especially the heart muscles, and controls electrolyte balance and acid-base balance.

Criteria for classifying potassium levels

  • <3.5 *mEq/L Low blood potassium level (Hypokalemia), muscle weakness, cramps, arrhythmias.
  • >5.0 *mEq/L High blood potassium level (Hyperkalemia), muscle weakness, cardiac arrest
  • Vegetables that are low to medium in potassium (100-200 mg per serving) include cucumbers, winter melon, squash, pumpkin, onions, cabbage, lettuce, lettuce, bell peppers, etc.
  • Fruits that are low to moderate in potassium (100-200 mg per serving) include 1 apple, 5 pineapple pieces, 4 longans, 4 small mangosteens, and 15 small green grapes.
  • Foods that are low to moderate in potassium (100-200 mg per serving) include white rice, oysters, egg tofu, mussels, firm tofu, sour milk drinks, yogurt, and skim milk.

Fruits and vegetables to avoid

  • High-potassium fruits tend to have a very sweet or sour taste, firm and soft flesh, or bright colors.
  • Dried fruits, canned/processed fruits and fruit juices are high in potassium.
  • Vegetables with bright colors and tubers will get potassium fertilizer to accelerate color and fruit. So they are high in potassium.

Techniques to reduce high potassium levels

  • Avoid/refrain from using in patients with certain stages of kidney disease who cannot excrete potassium from the body or patients with heart disease.
  • Choose low- to medium-potassium vegetables, totaling 3 ladles per day.
  • Choose low- to medium-potassium fruits, totaling 1-2 servings per day.
  • Cutting vegetables into small pieces and boiling them in water reduces their potassium content, as potassium is a water-soluble mineral. However, this method also causes some vitamins to be lost to water and heat. Frying does not destroy potassium.
  • Eating a lot of vegetables and fruits in the low-medium potassium group will result in receiving a high amount of potassium.
  • High-potassium vegetables can be used in very small amounts in some cases, such as grated ginger sprinkled on rice porridge or garlic added to stir-fried vegetables.
  • Avoid fruit and vegetable juices, dried fruits, canned/processed fruits.

In some cases, a dietitian may consider refraining from eating vegetables or fruits if the blood potassium level is above the standard, depending on the case. Therefore, all patients should follow ufabet http://ufabet999.app and eat the food as recommended by the doctor.