Anda di halaman 1dari 2

Norianne M. Pea 2BSN1 DIETS MODIFIED IN COMPOSITION Low Potassium What is Potassium?

Potassium is a mineral that is found in many foods. It keeps the heart beating regularly, helps to maintain fluid balance, and allows the nerves and muscles to work properly. The kidneys maintain the correct level of potassium in the blood. People who take certain medicines or who have chronic kidney disease must limit the amount of potassium in their diet to keep their potassium level close to normal. Why should I reduce potassium in my diet? Normally, the level of potassium in your body is balanced by eating foods that contain potassium and getting rid of excess potassium in the urine. However, some people with chronic kidney disease cannot get rid of enough potassium in their urine because the kidneys do not work well. In these people, the level of potassium in the blood can become higher than normal, causing a condition known as hyperkalemia (hyper=high, kal=potassium, emia=in the blood). Eating a low potassium diet can lower the risk of developing hyperkalemia. The potassium level is measured by taking a small sample of blood from a vein. A typical normal range for potassium is 3.5 to 5 meq/L. A level greater than 6 meq/L is considered dangerous. A low level can be dangerous as well. Hyperkalemia does not usually cause noticeable symptoms until the potassium level is very high. At this level, dangerous complications can develop, including an irregular heart rhythm or severe muscle weakness or paralysis. How much potassium do I need? In general, experts recommend eating a diet that contains at least 4700 mg of potassium per day. However, most people with chronic kidney disease should eat less than 1500 to 2700 mg of potassium per day. Fruit One to three servings of low-potassium fruit per day Vegetables Two to three servings of low-potassium vegetables per day Dairy and calcium rich foods One to two servings of low-potassium choices per day Meat and meat alternatives Three to seven servings of low-potassium choices per day (approximately 15 percent of calories) Grains Four to seven servings of low-potassium grains per day

Low Purine or Purine Restricted

What is low-purine diet? A low-purine diet is an eating plan that limits foods that contain purine. Purines are a natural substance found in some foods. When your body digests purine, a waste product called uric (say: yur-ick) acid is produced. A buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints can cause a type of arthritis known as gout. Purines are found in many healthy foods. The purpose of a low-purine diet is not to completely avoid purines. Instead, the goals are to limit and monitor how much purine is in the food you eat, and to learn how your body responds when you eat different foods that contain purine. Who should follow a low-purine diet? Doctor may recommend that you follow a low-purine diet if you have gout or another condition caused by high levels of uric acid (also called hyperuricemia). Following a low-purine diet may help reduce symptoms such as pain, redness and tenderness in your joints. How do I get started? Start by learning which of the foods that you eat are high in purine. Try to avoid eating high-purine foods and limit the amount of moderate-purine foods you eat. See the chart below for some suggestions.