What is the basic principle in low potassium diet?
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at
2:11 PM
I need to know what to keep in mind in serving or making a low potassium meal or diet. tnx
Tagged with: Basic Principle • Low Potassium Diet
Filed under: Potassium Diet
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Potassium is necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses that provide smooth coordinated muscle movement. Potassium also helps widen the blood vessels during exercise, thereby increasing blood flow to help carry away heat, and it is used to convert blood glucose to glycogen.
Increased levels of potassium in the blood is known as hyperkalemia. Some common causes of this are reduced renal (kidney) function, an abnormal breakdown of protein, and severe infection. The most common cause of hyperkalemia is reduced kidney function, especially in patients receiving dialysis for kidney failure.
http://www.greenhosp.org/pe_pdf/diet_lowpotassium.pdf
http://www.stronghealth.com/services/primarycare/pdf/potasiumrestrict.pdf
http://nutrition.about.com/od/foodfun/p/potassium_foods.htm
also, keep in mind besides food, there are potassium oral supplements and even potassium IV.
Why would you want a low K+ diet? It is necessary for proper cardiac muscle contraction.