Four Conditions Requiring a Low Potassium Diet

Four Conditions Requiring a Low Potassium Diet

For healthy people a diet of high potassium foods is very beneficial. But for some people, it is to be avoided. Most of those who require a low potassium diet already know who they are. They will be under the care of a doctor for a medical condition that causes them to retain potassium. Their doctor or a dietitian will have instructed them about a diet containing low potassium foods.

The 4 main conditions benefitting from a low potassium diet are:
1. Poorly functioning kidneys
2. Addison's disease
3. Hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism
4. Being on a potassium sparing diuretic for high blood pressure or congestive heart failure

1. The kidneys are the main organ regulating the potassium and sodium (two minerals) in our blood stream. As the kidney begins to fail, it may be unable to excrete enough potassium. A low potassium diet can be enough to prevent excessive potassium from building up in the body. When the kidney fails to the point that dialysis is needed, it will be unable to balance these minerals, but the balance will be maintained by the dialysis.

2. Addison's disease is the inadequate functioning of the adrenal glands. One of the hormones produced by the adrenals is aldosterone. When the adrenals do not produce enough aldosterone, the kidneys are not able to properly handle the two minerals. The reduced aldosterone means less potassium is excreted, and a eating a diet of low potassium foods can keep the body in balance.

3. Another disease with low aldosterone is due to the kidneys beginning to fail. A condition that affects mostly elderly patients, hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism is a kidney disease that reduces renin production. That causes less aldosterone to be secreted, resulting in less potassium being excreted. A low potassium diet can prevent excessive potassium from building up in the blood stream.

4. If you are on a potassium sparing diuretic to reduce fluid retention from high blood pressure or congestive heart failure, you may need a diet to lower it. Usually this type of diuretic is combined with a diuretic that increases potassium excretion, so it is important to check with your doctor about how much potassium you should have in your diet. The potassium sparing diuretics are amiloride (Midamor), triamterene (Dyrenium), spironolactone (Aldactone), and eplerenone (Inspra).

A low potassium diet is beneficial for some other rare diseases. In these cases, as well as those previously mentioned, the patient will be under the care of a doctor and know how to manage their diet. Routine blood tests will help to keep the minerals balanced. If you are generally healthy without these medical conditions, you will benefit from a diet high in potassium. It will reduce your chances of developing high blood pressure, reduce your chances of kidney stones, and improve your bone density. You will have less fatigue and more energy.