Page 62 - Harnett Life Winter 2020

Photo courtesy of Controlling
Getty Images
Potassium

When You Have

Kidney Disease

(Family Features) Foods high in potassium, an essential min- is considered a high-potassium food. Some examples include
eral and electrolyte, offer health and nutrition benefits. Potas- bananas, grapefruits, dried fruits, potatoes, Brussels sprouts,
sium helps muscles, including the heart, expand and contract, tomatoes, beans, most meats and fish, dairy products, nuts and
but for people whose kidneys can’t filter out excess potassium, chocolate.
its buildup can be deadly.
If you are on dialysis or your doctor recommends you eat low-
Many foods, like bananas, have potassium, but some have more potassium foods, aim for a daily potassium goal of 2,500 mil-
than others. For the 37 million Americans living with kidney ligrams and no more than 3,000 milligrams per day. Low-po-
disease, the American Kidney Fund’s “Beyond Bananas” educa- tassium foods include cauliflower, peppers, cucumbers, grapes,
tional campaign stresses the importance of controlling and man- strawberries, blueberries, bread, rice and pasta. Your doctor or
aging potassium levels for better health outcomes. High potas- dietitian may adjust these goals to fit your needs.
sium, known as hyperkalemia, is one of the common and serious
side effects of kidney disease. High potassium can be controlled long-term by choosing the
right foods, taking medicine and following simple tips such as
If you have kidney disease, you are at risk for hyperkalemia be- these:
cause your kidneys can’t remove the extra potassium in your • Ask your health care provider and dietitian to help you
blood. This can be dangerous as high potassium can cause heart create a potassium management plan.
attacks or even death. However, some people do not feel symp- • Call your insurance company to find out if your insur-
toms of high potassium until it’s too late and their heart health ance plan covers nutrition counseling.
worsens. If you do feel symptoms, some of the most common • Use a potassium food guide to help you select tasty,
are tiredness or weakness, nausea, muscle pains or cramps, trou- lower potassium food options.
ble breathing, unusual heartbeat and chest pains. • Find low-potassium recipes, such as those in the Ameri-
can Kidney’s Fund Kidney Kitchen.
For those with kidney disease, high potassium is not just a mea- • Download a potassium tracker to monitor how much po-
surement at a point in time but rather a chronic condition. Some tassium goes into your body every day.
of the most common causes of high potassium in those who have • Talk to your health care provider about finding a potas-
kidney disease are eating high-potassium foods, using a salt sub- sium binder, a medicine that sticks to the potassium in your body
stitute that contains potassium, constipation, missing dialysis and prevents some of it from being taken into your bloodstream.
treatments and taking some medicines or herbal supplements.
A food with 250 milligrams of potassium or more per serving To learn more and help manage your potassium, visit Kidney-
Page 62 Fund.org/beyondbananas.