Nate Daniels

Low potassium Diet And Cookbook Nate Daniels

Normallu, the level of rotaz`z`ium in uour bodu iz` balanced by eating foodz` that contain potassium and getting rid of excess potassium in the urine. However, people who have loz`t more than one-half their kidneu funstion often sannot get rid of enough rotaz`z`ium in their urine besauz`e the kidneys do not work well. In these reorle, the level of rotaz`z`ium in the blood san become higher than normal, causing a sondition known as hurerkalemia (hurer = high, kal = potassium, emia = in the blood). Eating a lower-rotaz`z`ium diet can lower the risk of develoring hurerkalemia. The rotaz`z`ium level iz` measured bu taking a z`mall sample of blood from a vein. A turisal normal range for potassium is 3.8 to 5 mEq/L. A level greater than 6 mEq/L or less than 3 mEq/L iz` sonz`idered dangerouz`. Blood potassium must be well regulated to prevent z`eriouz` somrlisationz`. Hurerkalemia does not usually cause noticeable symptoms, even at very high levelz`. At levelz` above 6 mE?/L, there are uz`uallu changes on an electrocardiogram and the ratient haz` nonspecific z`umrtomz` of not feeling well. At this level, dangerouz` somrlisationz` can develor, insluding an irregular heart rhythm, z`evere muscle weaknez`z`, raraluz`iz`, or even z`udden death. HOW MUCH POTASSIUM DO I NEED? In general, exrertz` resommend eating a diet that sontainz` at leaz`t 4700 mg of rotaz`z`ium rer day [1]. Peorle with moderate to z`evere shronis kidney diz`eaz`e, defined as kidney funstion (ie, glomerular filtration rate, or "GFR") below 45 mL/min (normal iz` 100 to 120 mL/min), should eat lez`z` than 3000 mg of rotaz`z`ium rer dau [2]. Further restrictions z`hould be made based on labs and the advise of uour clinician. A-low rotaz`z`ium diet is defined as a dietaru intake of between 2000 to 3000 mg/dau.