Foods that are prohibited for high potassium (or that you should avoid)

He potassium It is an important mineral for the body that we obtain, for the most part, through the food and drinks we consume. The kidneys are in charge of eliminating the excess, which we expel through the urine. However, if there is a excess potassium (either because we eat too much or for other reasons) they may not be able to eliminate it completely and accumulates in the bloodwhich can be a heart problem. In this case, it is appropriate reduce potassium intake in the diet.

Many people wonder, Are there forbidden foods for high potassium? Although when we think of potassium, the first food that probably comes to mind is the banana, there are several others that exceed its amounts, as you will see later.

What is potassium and what is it for?

He potassium (represented by the symbol K) is an essential mineral that plays a key role in various physiological functions of the human body.

Is he third most abundant mineral in the body human and the largest amount is found in cells.

Maintaining the correct balance of potassium is essential for health: it helps maintain the fluid balance in and around cellsis crucial for the nerve functionparticipates in the maintenance of the muscle functionplays an important role in maintaining a regular heart rhythm and the regulation of blood pressure. It is also important for the energy metabolism and the acid-base balance of the body.

According to the Spanish Heart Foundation, a healthy adult should consume 3,100 milligrams of potassium a day.

What are normal potassium levels?

He normal blood potassium level is usually between 3.5 and 5 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). If potassium levels fall below or exceed this range, health problems may occur that require evaluation by a physician.

When a person has some too low potassium levels (what is known as hypokalemia), below 3.5 mmol/litre, you may have symptoms such as muscle weakness, tiredness, irregular heartbeat and, in severe cases, paralysis. This can occur due to factors such as a diet that is too low in potassium, taking certain medications (for example, diuretics), having excessive fluid loss (from vomiting or diarrhea), or kidney disease, among others.

On the contrary, some too high levels of potassium (hyperkalemia)above 5 mmol/L, may be the result of a excessive intake of potassium, kidney failure, certain drugs (such as potassium-sparing diuretics) or diseases that cause cell damage (such as severe burns or trauma). hyperkalemia can alter heart rhythm and be life-threatening if not treated immediately.

Foods that are prohibited for high potassium (or that you should avoid)

Maintaining adequate levels of potassium is essential for the body to function properly and for this it is convenient to ensure a adequate intake, but not excessiveof this mineral through the diet.

If you have high potassium levels (even if they don’t reach hyperkalemia, which would require medical help), you should avoid a diet that is too high in potassium.

The bananas (with 350 mg of potassium per 100 g) They are one of the fruits with the most potassium, but there are many other foods that contain it in a higher amount. These are some of the plant foods with the highest content of this mineralaccording to the Spanish Heart Foundation:

Soy beans (1700 mg per 100 g). Canned crushed tomato (1160 mg per 100 g). Pistachio (1020 mg per 100 g). Dried broad beans (1005 mg per 100 g) Dried peas (1005 mg per 100 g ) Dried beans (1000 mg per 100 g) Dried figs (983 mg per 100 g) Dried plums (950 mg per 100 g) Almonds (800 mg per 100 g) Chickpeas (797 mg per 100 g) Lentils (790 mg per 100 g) Dates (750 mg per 100 g) Avocado (680 mg per 100 g) Walnuts and pine nuts (600 mg per 100 g) Chestnuts (530 mg per 100 g) Mushrooms (500 mg per 100 g) Hazelnuts (500 mg per 100 g)

There are also various herbs and spices that are especially high in potassiummore than most foods, such as basil (3,433 mg per 100 g), dill (3,310 mg), paprika (2,340 mg), chilli (2,010 mg) or cumin (1,788 mg).

Note that Boiling vegetables helps reduce their potassium content and what is convenient avoid salt substitutes that contain potassium chloride.