Supporting the health of our cells, muscles, and nerves, potassium is crucial to our body’s functioning. The essential nutrient also aids in converting carbohydrates into energy, maintaining a healthy heartbeat, and more, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
Healthy adults are advised to get 4,700 milligrams of potassium daily. However, people with certain health conditions may want to steer clear of foods with a high potassium content and we’re not just talking about bananas.
Rather, potatoes are one potassium-rich food best avoided for people diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD)...To Read The Full Content; Tap Here Now .
More than 1 in every 7 adults is thought to have chronic kidney disease. What’s more, up to 9 in 10 adults are completely unaware that they have the condition.
Chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to effectively filter waste from our blood due to long-term kidney damage.
Eventually, this can make a person more susceptible to stroke, hypertension, heart disease, or premature death. To help manage kidney health, patients may be given specific dietary recommendations.
People with chronic kidney disease may be advised to avoid high-potassium foods
The reason potassium can pose a health risk to patients with chronic kidney disease is because the kidneys are already struggling to regulate potassium levels in the body, explains the National Kidney Foundation.
Increased potassium intake can subsequently put a person at risk for hyperkalemia, a condition in which the amount of potassium in the blood exceeds normal levels.
More mild cases of hyperkalemia may produce symptoms of nausea, muscle weakness, or tingling sensations, while more serious cases can be fatal.
For this reason, people with chronic kidney disease may be advised to stick with a low-potassium diet, particularly if they are in the later stages of the disease.
During earlier stages of the disease, such dietary restrictions may not be necessary. Patients who are told to keep potassium intake to a minimum, however, may want to avoid potatoes.
Some research suggests, however, that the way in which potatoes are cooked may help significantly lower their potassium content.
Patients with chronic kidney disease or any other kidney issues should first speak with their doctor or a kidney dietitian about what diet plan is best for them.
While some individuals may be advised against eating potatoes, some patients on dialysis may need to increase their potassium intake to make up for the nutrients being lost.