Potassium Avoidance Primer... how do you do it?

[abd789]

So I keep hearing about potassium and Spiro... what are your guidelines to avoid potassium intake. I just looked at a few things I eat very often and see they have it, but I dont know what is too much or how concerned to be.

Any solid opinions are appreciated 

Multi vitamin - 2 percent daily allowance
Sweet potatoes - 7 percent daily allowance
Almonds - 6 percent daily allowance

[KayXo]

I would avoid taking a multivitamin with potassium in it, salt substitutes, energy drinks, juices, sodas, and perhaps eat bananas, potatoes in moderation. It's important to eat enough SALT and drink water.

[Deborah]

I track my diet each day and just make sure my intake is not excessive over the week.  As long as my daily average is less than around 3500mg I think I'm ok.

The only thing I eat that runs the numbers up is potatoes.


Sapere Aude

[Sydney_NYC]

Salt substitutes (almost pure potassium) and energy drinks are the worse and should be avoided at all costs. Natural foods with potassium like bananas and sweet potatoes, are OK as long as you don't overdue them. I have sweet potatoes several times a week and my potassium levels have always come back in the normal range.

[abd789]

Awesome! I rarely eat regular potatoes or bananas... but we do have baked sweet pot fries a few times a week.

I also dont use any of that other stuff mentioned...

I guess Im worried about nuts as I eat alot of those and my vitamin I guess will have to change?

Thanks for the info

How about salt? I NEVER add salt to anything, I need to start? Thats a tough one to master there as I have avoided salt for 25 years... but I do like the taste... I just felt it was bad for me

[Deborah]

I had to start adding extra salt.  Without doing that I kept getting low on sodium.


Sapere Aude

[Valwen]

I lucky love pickles even before hrt so now I just eat them like a snack. Some days at work I just buy and eat a jar of pickles for my break. Then I make jokes about how I love shoving pickles in my mouth and how I must be pregnant because I ate a whole jar for lunch. :-P

Serena

[KayXo]

How about salt? I NEVER add salt to anything, I need to start? Thats a tough one to master there as I have avoided salt for 25 years... but I do like the taste... I just felt it was bad for me

Eating enough salt is critical on Spiro. It will help avoid things like dehydration, tiredness, leg cramps, dizziness. Spiro increases sodium loss. Your cravings for salt will increase.

[Stevie]

  I have been eating a lot green olives lately.

[abd789]

Been looking more into this...

I guess Im sorta confused and worried about how and what to eat or is there a level that is safe? I dont really consider my diet unhealthy, quite the opposite... yet I find many of my normal foods to be on the list of higher potassium foods?

Things I eat regularly that the web claims high in potassium:

Whole grain bread
Yogurt Activia
Lemon / lime juice (in water)
Sweet potatoes (baked, no skin)
Broccoli
Peanut butter (natural)
Avacado
Salmon
Steak
Almonds
Pure Protein Bars
Coffee!

Seems as though I have to eat a more unhealthy diet to avoid the stuff, which I hate to do. Maybe Im just not seeing the facts here and overthinking it?

And add SALT!

Ive spent the last 20 years trying to eat a healthier diet (better foods, I didnt say less) and now I feel like I have to revert to eating crap just to take these meds... that doesnt make a whole lot of sense to me

[Maybebaby56]

Hi Rita,

I am on spiro, and I don't avoid any of those foods, except for bread.  My serum potassium levels are always normal. I think as long as your diet is balanced and reasonable there is nothing special you need to do.

~Terri 

[abd789]

Thank you Terri!

[Snowent]

I just recently started HRT and Spiro myself and have really only taken potatoes out of my diet. My tests have been in a happy range so far with very little changes to my diet. Beets(Greens), Spinach(Greens), and Tomatoes(fresh, crushed/puree'd) are also rather high in potassium. I actually stumbled onto a dialysis page that had some good information on potassium (taken out of context of course) so you may look at things like that for a general idea of where potassium may be hiding

[abd789]

Thanks....

[KayXo]

You will naturally crave more salt and more water. This is normal with spiro because it increases sodium/water excretion. So you need to give in to your body's cravings or else, the lack of salt/water will lead to side-effects and possible complications. Minimizing salt intake while on Spiro is NOT a good idea. Don't overdo it with diuretics like coffee.

[abd789]

I talked with my Dr who said my health looked great and she is not concerned with me watching my potassium like a hawk...she would rather I relaxed and enjoyed the ride... and we will check my levels at my first check up. I doubt I get close to the RDA of it anyways. (I realize I do not want to get that much) I did switch to a multi vitamin without potassium today. Im just amazed at how many of the things I eat regularly have it... and I refuse to eat junk food just to avoid potassium and get more salt, seems like a dumb move

I cant say I crave salt or water yet. I drink 6-8 bottles of water a day though, I increased it from 4-5. I have been adding salt to my food, as much as I hate to.... but I cant say I have craved it yet... I do it cuz the web and stuff says I should. I do have some tired spells and minor muscle cramps, so I upped the salt again today

[Dena]

Tired spells and muscle cramps are a sign of low sodium. As for craving, just so you know what it's like, salt will taste really good. One time I worked outside when it was very hot and lost a fair amount of salt. When I ate dinner, I found that a little salt on the food may it taste so much better.

[abd789]

Thanks! Eating some salty chips as I type this