Although potassium is an essential nutrient, too much could be bad for your health. Hyperkalemia, which is a high level of potassium in the blood, is diagnosed when an amount of this mineral greater than 6 millimoles per liter of blood (mmol / L) is detected. It usually occurs in patients with kidney problems and can cause nausea, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, breathing problems and chest pain. In such cases, consult your doctor immediately. If you suffer from hyperkalaemia, it will likely instruct you to follow a low potassium diet to bring the mineral values back to normal. In severe cases, he may also prescribe medication for you. By following the right treatment, you can get healthy and get back to your life.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Follow a Low Potassium Diet
In addition to prescribing drug therapy to lower plasma potassium concentrations, your doctor will probably also suggest a restrictive diet to avoid a new peak in values. Since almost all foods contain potassium, especially fruit and vegetables, it can be difficult to adopt a diet that limits its intake. Follow these tips and talk to your doctor or dietician if needed for further guidance.
Step 1. Take less than 2000 mg of potassium per day
Although on average people take in about 3500 to 4500 mg of potassium per day, these amounts can be too high for people with hyperkalemia. If you have to follow a diet low in potassium, do not take more than 2000 mg per day in order to normalize the values. Check your diet carefully and stick to this limit.
If your doctor or dietician instructs you to stay within different ranges, follow their instructions
Step 2. Read the nutrition tables on the packaged foods you buy
All prepared or packaged foods should have a mirror with the nutritional values of the nutrients they contain. Check them to calculate the amount of potassium you ingest each day.
- If you buy fresh food or a product without a nutritional table, look for the potassium content on the Internet or by consulting a special application.
- Pay attention to portions when checking nutritional values. You may think that an entire package corresponds to a single serving, when in most cases it contains several.
Step 3. Eat foods that contain less than 150 mg of potassium per serving
Foods that offer less than 150 mg of potassium are considered low in this mineral, so opt for these foods. You can eat them without worrying about exceeding the daily limit, but still pay attention to the portions so you don't get too much even if you don't want to.
- Low-potassium fruits and vegetables include berries, apples, peaches, pears, pineapples, squash, rhubarb, radishes, peppers, onions, lettuce, eggplant, celery, cabbage, beans, and cauliflower.
- Bread, cereals, lean meats, pasta and rice are also low in potassium.
Step 4. Limit or avoid dishes that have more than 200 mg of potassium per serving
Foods with an amount of potassium greater than 200 mg are considered to have a medium or high content of this mineral. You can eat them as long as you don't overdo it. In general, you should cut out all foods that are higher in potassium.
- Medium-potassium foods include asparagus, carrots, kale, Brussels sprouts, corn, cherries, grapefruits, pears, and oranges.
- Potassium-rich foods to eliminate include avocados, bananas, nuts, artichokes, green cantaloupe, potatoes, spinach, beets, bran, chocolate, muesli, milk, and peanut butter.
Step 5. Avoid all salt substitutes
Most salt substitutes are made with potassium chloride, so they bring a very high dose of potassium. Eliminate them completely from your diet.
There are many salt substitutes on the market, such as Novosal and Sal Dieta. If in doubt, check the packaging. If you read "salt substitute" or "low in sodium", don't buy it
Step 6. Eliminate sports drinks
Sports drinks are specially designed to deliver high doses of electrolytes, including potassium. Remove them completely from your diet. Limit yourself to still or sparkling water.
Step 7. Consult a dietician if you need further advice
Since many foods contain varying levels of potassium, eating a low-potassium diet can be confusing. If you don't know where to start or are having trouble following proper nutrition, make an appointment with a dietician. It can help you establish and stick to a diet that suits your needs.
Ask your doctor to recommend a dietician if you can't find one
Part 2 of 3: Adopting Some Strategies to Further Eliminate Potassium
In addition to feeding yourself adequately, there are other solutions to decrease the potassium intake. By avoiding certain substances or using certain cooking methods, you can enrich a restricted diet and reduce blood potassium levels.
Step 1. Remove liquid from canned foods, even meat-based ones
The liquid contained in canned products, including those of animal origin, are rich in potassium leaked from food. So, reduce your overall intake of this mineral by filtering the liquid from these dishes before consuming them.
If you eat canned legumes, such as beans, drain and rinse them to get rid of excess potassium
Step 2. Soak the vegetables
This way, you will eliminate potassium from foods that are rich in it, especially vegetables, so that you can eat them. Start by washing and peeling the vegetables. Cut them into 30 cm pieces and rinse them with hot water. Then, soak them in hot water making sure that the amount of water is greater than the food you are treating in a ratio of 10 to 1. Leave everything to soak for a couple of hours, then rinse again first. to cook.
- Soaking doesn't eliminate all the potassium in foods, so always respect your portions to avoid getting too much.
- This process is suitable when you want to eat potatoes, beets, turnips, carrots and squash.
Step 3. Do not take dietary supplements unless directed by your doctor
Food and herbal supplements may contain potassium as an additive element. You should avoid them unless your doctor tells you to take them.
Step 4. Stop taking any medications containing potassium if directed by your doctor
Some pills and tablets may also contain potassium as an additive. If you are on a diet low in this mineral and need to take medications regularly, ask your doctor which ones contain it. In this case, the prescription may change.
- Never stop any medication without your doctor's advice.
- If you need to take an over-the-counter drug, consult your pharmacist to find out if it contains potassium.
Part 3 of 3: Seeking Medical Treatment
Although it is possible to combat hyperkalemia by modifying the diet, it is still a potentially dangerous alteration that must be treated following the doctor's advice. Do not try to cure it without consulting your doctor. In addition to recommending a low-potassium diet, your doctor may prescribe certain medications and other therapies to bring your levels back to normal. Consider the following treatments only under the close supervision of your doctor.
Step 1. See your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of hyperkalaemia
The most common are muscle fatigue and weakness, nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties, chest pains and an irregular heartbeat. If they occur, you must be examined immediately.
Although plasma potassium concentrations are normal, these symptoms may be related to another health problem. So, consult your doctor as soon as possible to narrow down the diagnostic suspicion
Step 2. Eliminate potassium from the body with diuretics
Diuretics work by increasing the production and elimination of urine. This effect helps to expel the potassium accumulated at the systemic level and to lower the overall values. If your doctor prescribes them, take them as directed.
- He or she will also likely suggest that you drink more water while taking diuretics to help your kidneys eliminate potassium in larger amounts.
- They may also prescribe a diuretic that is given intravenously.
Step 3. Take medications for the treatment of hyperkalemia if prescribed by your doctor
In severe cases of hyperkalemia, the doctor may prescribe certain medications that can reduce the amount of potassium in the blood. Put simply, they bind to the mineral by expelling it from the body and, therefore, avoid a peak in values. Take them as directed by your doctor.
- Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate and patiromer are the most widely used drugs for the treatment of hyperkalemia.
- Usually these drugs are sold in the form of a powder. Just mix it in a glass of water and drink it all following the instructions in the package leaflet.
Step 4. Undergo intravenous calcium, glucose or insulin therapy in severe cases
These three substances are able to excrete potassium systemically. The doctor may opt for this treatment if it is necessary to eliminate it quickly, or if the symptoms of hyperkalemia are severe. You will be given one of these substances, or a combination of the three, intravenously. In this way, the serum potassium concentration should return to normal.
- This treatment is performed on a hospital basis.
- In any case, your doctor may advise you to follow a low-potassium diet to rule out further risks.
Health reminder
Treatment is needed when plasma potassium concentrations are high, so see your doctor right away if you experience symptoms of hyperkalaemia. After seeing you, he will likely prescribe a diet low in this mineral and some medications. Follow his directions carefully to solve the problem. Thereafter, your health condition should normalize.
Warnings
- Remember that the portions of the dishes are important. If you want to eat a low-potassium dish, but consume three servings, you will get more of this mineral than you should.
- The body still needs some potassium to function properly, so don't completely eliminate it from your diet. Your doctor may instruct you to have blood tests periodically to make sure your readings are normal.
