It can also be difficult to best know how to treat our kidneys. They are the filter for our entire bodies and play such an important role in our overall health, but too much water can be as bad as too little. Not understanding fully what our kidneys need to function properly can be disastrous. So did you know, that if your kidney is in poor health, that too much potassium can be an enormous threat? Here’s why you should cut down on potassium when having kidney problems.
Why is potassium dangerous?
When kidneys are diseased or infected, they become less efficient. This means that they are less efficient at doing their job of filtering. The kidneys therefore cannot properly remove excess potassium from the blood. This means your body ends up with excess potassium, and too much can be dangerous for the body. Excess potassium in the body can create nausea, muscle weakness, cramps, confusion, lack of coordination, and even heart failure. We must be extremely careful in understanding the risks if we are dealing with any kind of kidney problems, and be careful to avoid excessive amounts of potassium in our diets.
High potassium foods
These foods are high in potassium and should be avoided if you have kidney problems:
Avocado Pumpkin Sweet potatoes White beans Bananas Spinach Apricots Brussel sprouts Clams Lentils Regular potatoes
Low potassium foods
Feel free to indulge in these low potassium foods:
Apples Blueberries Whole grain bread Butter Cereals Olives Pasta Hummus Cheese
Get to know your potassium level
If you have kidney problems, or think you have kidney problems, see your doctor. You can check your potassium levels with your doctor and can continue to do so regularly. Be careful too not to overindulge in low potassium foods. Although they are listed as being low in potassium, we can easily prepare large portions and therefore end up consuming too much of small amounts, which of course equals larger amounts. This too can lead to problems so be careful to limit the amounts even of low potassium foods whilst undergoing any form of kidney treatment. Potassium is still an important nutrient for the body but it is best to moderate this particular nutrient, especially whilst dealing with kidney problems. Take care of your body and see your doctor on a regular basis. When your kidney problems become better, you can talk to your doctor about reintroducing potassium to your diet. Until then, your focus should largely be on making sure your body is healthy and full of other important vitamins and nutrients your body will need for recovery. Featured photo credit: Albumarium via albumarium.com
