If you need to reduce the amount of potassium in your diet, you may need to see a nutritionist. We anticipate what the professional will offer you.
Something that is not so easy
Some diseases, such as type 1 diabetes , chronic kidney failure, alterations of the adrenal glands or organ transplant situations, warrant lowering potassium intake. Even the chronic use of anti-inflammatories, diuretics or exercising very intensely, also require reducing the intake of this mineral.
To reduce it in the diet, it is necessary to select the foods that contain it the least,
If you are in a situation where you need help with this, you found the perfect article. So don't miss out on this opportunity and read on to learn how to eat with less potassium in your diet.
What is potassium and what are its functions?
National Kidney Foundation Potassium is a mineral found in a wide variety of foods.
It is also known as an electrolyte as it helps conduct electricity along with sodium, calcium and magnesium. It is important because it helps keep your heart beating, nerve function, and muscle contraction. It also promotes the flow of nutrients to the cells.
To be regulated in the blood, the kidney participates, but when this organ becomes ill, it cannot balance it. That is why in kidney disease it is necessary to limit certain foods that can increase the potassium content in the blood.
Very high concentrations can be dangerous
Also read 6 foods with more potassium than bananas
How to reduce the amount of potassium in the diet?
The first thing to know are the foods that contain the lowest amounts of potassium. Also which ones have it in high concentration and medium proportion. Some techniques when preparing food help us eat less.
Potassium is found in notable amounts in fresh, uncooked fruits and vegetables.
National Kidney Foundation
Low Potassium Foods
The portions of these foods are equivalent to a content of less than 150 milligrams.
If you eat more than indicated, you run the risk of turning it into a food that provides high potassium:
Apple: its juice or puree.
Red fruits: cherries, blueberries , blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.
Apricot and its canned juice.
Grapes and their juice.
Fruit cocktail.
Citrus: such as grapefruit. Of tangerine a small unit is allowed.
Pear: when it is fresh, a small one is accepted. Canned half cup is indicated.
Peach: if it is fresh, a small one. But canned, half a cup should be consumed, without the syrup.
Pineapple and its juice.
Watermelon: a cup provides 150 milligrams.
Vegetables: 1/2 cup of alfalfa sprouts , cabbage, cauliflower, cooked carrot, fresh or frozen corn, cucumber, and eggplant are allowed. The same portion of lettuce, onion, parsley, peas, white mushrooms, watercress, butternut squash, rhubarb , watercress, and canned water chestnuts are also allowed. Asparagus 6 units and 1 stalk of celery are allowed.
Other foods: half a cup of pasta, rice, non-whole grain bakery products, cakes and cookies without nuts or chocolate. 8 ounces of coffee and 16 ounces of tea are allowed.
In general, fruits and vegetables are low in potassium when fresh. The canned versions do not.
Foods with moderate potassium value
These foods contain between 150 to 250 milligrams
Legumes: A 1/4 cup serving of cooked peas provides these amounts.
Vegetables: cooked cabbage, fresh cut tomato and 45 grams of cooked chard are recommended.
Fruits: 1 medium unit of guava . Grapes in portions of 100 grams and 5 ounces of apple juice.
Nuts: between 20 and 30 grams of almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts and 1/4 cup of fresh coconut.
Sunflower seeds: 1/4 cup is recommended.
Tofu – As a derivative of soybeans, 1/2 cup provides less than 250 milligrams.
Brewer's yeast: 1 teaspoon.
Foods High in Potassium
contain more than 250 milligrams of potassium
Fruits and fruit juices: melon, banana, figs, dried plums, raisins. 2 fresh apricots and 5 dried halves, 1/2 unit of banana, 5 dates, 1 medium unit of kiwi , mango, nectarine or orange. 1 medium pomegranate and 1/2 unit of papaya. Juices include grapefruit, orange, prune, and pomegranate.
Vegetables : canned tomato, cooked spinach, butternut squash, artichoke, zucchini, dried beans, boiled beets, cooked broccoli, raw Brussels sprouts, rutabaga, parsnips.
Other foods: chocolate, granola, bran, whole grains, 1 tablespoon molasses, 1 ounce nuts and seeds, salt substitutes, 2 tablespoons peanut butter, yogurt.
Meat, milk and dairy products: 1 portion of 150 grams of meat and 1 glass of milk between them provide 1000 milligrams of potassium.
Also read Potassium: regulation and functions
Techniques to reduce potassium in food
The University Clinical Hospital of Valladolid establishes a series of recommendations to lower potassium in the diet. For this, culinary techniques are applied that help extract the mineral from food.
Soaking
dissolves well in water
To do this, the contact surface of the food with the water must be increased. Therefore, it must be peeled and cut into small cubes.
over night the water should be changed 2 or 3 times.
To facilitate the extraction of potassium, as long as the subsequent preparation of the food allows it, you can use moderately hot water, between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius. This facilitates the penetration into the food and the extraction of potassium.
double cooking
cook food in plenty of water
After this, add new water and repeat the process. When the food is ready, then proceed to discard the water.
Also, it is important not to use the cooking water as a base stock for other preparations. Something common in soups and sauces.
Soaking reduces the amount of potassium because the water draws the mineral out of the food.
Other suggestions
If you use canned or preserved vegetables, you should discard the juice or brine and then rinse them well with plenty of water.
Baking, grilling, or steaming methods should also not be used, as the potassium is more concentrated.
Frozen foods will have less potassium than fresh foods , since when they are thawed, the ice crystals that break the cells allow it to be extracted more easily.
Avoid whole foods and their derivatives , such as bread or crackers, since potassium is located in the bran or the husk that surrounds the grain.
To season use herbs or spices as a substitute for salt. Some low-sodium salts are actually high in potassium. They are actually potassium chloride salts.
In both low and moderate potassium foods, the soaking and double cooking techniques can be applied. This will substantially reduce the supply of the micronutrient.
How much potassium should be ingested?
The amount of potassium to ingest per day should be indicated by a health professional. For example, in the event of kidney disease, the nephrologist prescribes the daily amount of potassium and the clinical nutritionist prepares the plan.
The average values vary for different pathologies:
Chronic renal failure: between 1,560 to 2,730 milligrams per day.
Acute renal failure: between 1,170 to 1,950 milligrams per day.
Dialysis: 2,340 to 3,510 milligrams per day.
Other pathologies: between 1000 to 2000 milligrams per day.