Re: Low Potassium Diet

Question
Hi There,
I hope you can help. My husband has polycystic kidneys,his mother gave them to all 5 boys that she had. His older brother is now on dialysis, and my husband is checked regularly through blood tests. The last test he just had shows his potassium level at 5.6 which is high. The doctor wants him to cut back on potassium, but as you know everything has potassium in it. I have been on the computer most of the day with potassium levels in all the foods, and what to do about soaking the food first before cooking it. Do you have any suggestions as to what to eat, portion size, and thing to stay away from. I appreciate anything you can help us with. Thanks in advance.

Answer
If your husband is not on dialysis, he will need to be very careful with what he eats.  Our renal patients receive 4 ounces of meat per day and only one serving of dairy.  All fruits and vegetables are limited to "low" potassium foods, with the occasional "medium" for variety because the diet gets very old very fast.  www.kidney.org has great lists, as I am sure you found if you were researching earlier.  Portion-sizes are usually 1/2 cup cooked fruit (applesauce, juices) and vegetables or 1 cup raw, but lists may specify a different serving size.  Foods to avoid include citrus fruits, bananas, potatoes (unless they are soaked and thoroughly cooked), tomato products, and seeds.  Whole grains are pretty high in potassium but may be able to be eaten if blood levels are checked regularly.  Most berries are low in potassium (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, cherries) as are green beans, wax beans, and iceberg lettuce.  I would suggest printing a good list to keep around until you are used to what foods are high and what foods are low.  If he is very ambitious and good at reading food labels, your husband could also track is potassium so he is consuming approximately 2 grams per day which would also increase his options because he may be able to work a "high" food in as a treat every once and awhile.  If he gets to the point where dialysis is needed, he will be able to eat more because the dialysis will remove some extra potassium and protein.  

It sounds as if your husband is in good hands with you researching what he can eat and the whole family needing to become experts on the subject.  I wish you all the best!

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