Sunday, August 9, 2009

The Benefits of a Low Potassium Diet

By Jesse Regan

Eversince, various medical professionals have been developing and finding ways to come up with a health program that will give absolute answer to various serious health issues and to fine absolution in the health improvement of an individual. More often, these health programs are designed to help persons loose a considerable amount of their weight in a healthy way while there those that are made to focus on the improvement of the person's overall health. One fine example of the latter is the low potassium diet.

In actuality, low potassium diet may not be that popular compared to other forms of health programs. But then, this diet is made for those who seem to be most vulnerable to various health risks due to high levels of potassium. Most frequently, those that have kidney problems are the ones that are most likely to be in great need of the diet.

Potassium is found in various types of food like beans, fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. We need this generally for our muscle functions, but too much of this can lead to potential danger for some people. With a low potassium diet, people benefit from a relatively lower amount of potassium in their blood. This type of diet is also very helpful in maintaining normal heart and muscle functions.

For a low potassium diet, the person engaged in the program must make sure that frozen fruits and vegetables must be cooked in water and must be rinsed and drained well before serving. When it comes to canned goods, it is advised to drain the liquid inside the can and to rinse the fruits and vegetables inside it before it is allowed to be served.

Whenever you feel like wanting to add some potatoes on your diet, its best to have them firs peeled, thinly sliced, and then soaked in water for at least four hours or even better if overnight before it gets to be cooked. The same procedure should be followed when preparing green leafy vegetables for cooking such as kale, spinach, and collards. This certain type of procedure is of great importance as it helps in the reduction of the potassium content in the mentioned fruits. Salt substitutes on the other hand are strictly prohibited as they are known to contain potassium. As an alternative, slat-free herb blends and spices can be considered. And when on the grocery store, it is wise to keep a heads up on the labels and check for words that include potassium like potassium chloride in order to avoid certain foods that contain them.

With a low potassium diet, an individual gets to avoid all the risks that can be contracted in the case of high levels of potassium. One serious threat from high concentration of potassium in our bloodstream is the fatal cardiac arrhythmia. A person who has a relatively high level of potassium can experience various symptoms like palpitations or irregular heartbeat, irritability, slow weak pulse, spasms, anxiety, tiredness, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and even heart failure. It is always significant to learn more about burn fat .

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