Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I would love to get some ideas on what to eat or how to prepare somethig with low potassium in it. Everything I like as it in it and I suck at this and am worried about my eating habits. how can I gain weight if I can't eat?

Your body needs a certain amount of Potassium to function, as well as Sodium and Selenium and pretty much all the other elements that are not radioactive, so it's not a good idea to try and avoid anything totally.
If you are required to go on a low K+ diet medically, that is a totally different matter.   
You should probably be ok sticking to fresh fruit and veg, and anything else unprocessed.  Your local version of the Heart Institute, Cancer Council etc should have good on-line info, as well as your GP. 

Karen.

 If it's just the hormones that you're worried about, there shouldn't be too much of a problem with potassium.

I consume quite a bit of potassium, and haven't noticed anything from it. You would have to eat a lot of potassium for things to start becoming risky.

Spiro holds potassium in the body. I have been know to be a bit of an hypocondract in the past. i hope that is all it is. lol.

Quote from: jainie marlena on June 28, 2012, 01:26:25 AM
Spiro holds potassium in the body. I have been know to be a bit of an hypocondract in the past. i hope that is all it is. lol.

I have never worried about what I eat in regards to potassium and my levels have always been fine. Don't worry about it too much, just have your doctor keep an eye on it.

Considering what I have read on the subject while researching cholesterol years ago due to my own high levels, the average American diet is pretty awful according to US nutritionists.  Ours is a bit better, but not much, we are not into sugar as much that's all.

Without going to the extremes of the current 'Paleolithic' diet fad, changing our diet to what our ancestors ate a Century or so ago is a good move.  Lean meat and fish, grilling rather than frying, avoiding high sugar or high salt content processed foods, and lots of fresh fruit and veg is the way to go.  Frozen veg are ok too, as they are snap-frozen within a very short time of picking, and can be kept on hand for use when something is out of season.  Canned goods can have a lot of salt or sugar added, so I am careful with them.

Good excuse for a BBQ and salad, with a nice naturally produced vinous beverage.

Karen.

I can tell you to avoid apricots as they are full of potassium... but are a favorite of mine. Bananas, OJ, and raisins too. Apples, grapes, strawberries are fine though. Fish and pasta are safe bets too. Most veggies can go either way, so check them out.

The reason people on Spironolactone need to monitor potassium serum levels, is that Spiro is a potassium saving diurectic. It causes your body to store potassium. Too much potassium in your blood can stop your heart, this is why if you are on Spiro, you need to closely monitor your potassium levels with blood tests.

Quote from: JennX on June 28, 2012, 06:27:13 AM
I can tell you to avoid apricots as they are full of potassium... but are a favorite of mine. Bananas, OJ, and raisins too. Apples, grapes, strawberries are fine though. Fish and pasta are safe bets too. Most veggies can go either way, so check them out.

The reason people on Spironolactone need to monitor potassium serum levels, is that Spiro is a potassium saving diurectic. It causes your body to store potassium. Too much potassium in your blood can stop your heart, this is why if you are on Spiro, you need to closely monitor your potassium levels with blood tests.

This is more on the lines that I am was talking about. Puting things together in to a meal. Does anyone here cook? or know how to make somthing that gears toward a better trans diet. Do to Spiro saving Potassium.

As long as you are getting your blood tests and the doctor is not telling you to back off potasium foods then you should be ok.
Myself, when I was on spiro I just tried to be aware of which foods have high potasium and try and not eat more than a few servings of such foods.

Quote from: cynthialee on June 28, 2012, 09:21:08 AM
As long as you are getting your blood tests and the doctor is not telling you to back off potasium foods then you should be ok.
Myself, when I was on spiro I just tried to be aware of which foods have high potasium and try and not eat more than a few servings of such foods.

even the spearment tea that I was drinking has it. anyway thanks that is what i will do get a blood test.

Quote from: jainie marlena on June 28, 2012, 07:50:03 AM
This is more on the lines that I am was talking about. Puting things together in to a meal. Does anyone here cook? or know how to make somthing that gears toward a better trans diet. Do to Spiro saving Potassium.

I have been told that I am quite the Chef and my catering business is proof positive I'm doing something correct. Having said that I to take spiro E and use a wild yam cream and my endo always says my blood work is right where it needs to be. I eat what I cook and I cook a variety of food from Chinese Japanese Asian cuisine to BBQ to fine french and italian meals. I would consult my endo but I really don't see an issue as long as you keep things in moderation.

Quote from: Cyndigurl45 on June 28, 2012, 11:11:34 AM
I have been told that I am quite the Chef and my catering business is proof positive I'm doing something correct. Having said that I to take spiro E and use a wild yam cream and my endo always says my blood work is right where it needs to be. I eat what I cook and I cook a variety of food from Chinese Japanese Asian cuisine to BBQ to fine french and italian meals. I would consult my endo but I really don't see an issue as long as you keep things in moderation.

My problem is my poor eating habbits. I go a day not eating anything sometimes even two then I eat like a horse for two or three days. I never got away from it. It started like that when I was going through depression and never really got out of the habbit. My in take on the days I eat is really high. Not normal at all. give an exsample of moderation please.

Well not eating for a day or 2 is extremely unhealthy, the rule used to be 3 square meals a day and your caloric intake was around 1800-2000 calories EVERY day. Back when that was popular I would manage my days with 3 meals around 500 calories each and the rest was in nibbling snacks hear and there, that didn't work for me.

Now I eat 5 -6 times a day with my largest meal around the noon hour and I have lowered my intake to around 1200-1500 per day and I am never hungry, every few hours I consume 100 calories or so. Not sure if that answers your question and I'm not sure it will, you have to find what works for you.

I definitely agree that blood tests are the way to go, your doc will let you know when something's up. Even on spiro and eating a really healthy diet my potassium levels are actually really low. My last trip I just broke into the low range of normal, and I tend to have at least the rda of potassium. Just shows, everyone's different

Quote from: jainie marlena on June 28, 2012, 01:26:25 AM
Spiro holds potassium in the body. I have been know to be a bit of an hypocondract in the past. i hope that is all it is. lol.

That's true but there are plenty of other anti-androgens on the market other than spiro. Spiro isn't even licensed by the NHS in our country (U.K).

Just try to avoid the High Potassium Foods (http://[url=http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/food/potassium-foods.htm).

  Potassium (K) is in everything and you will need this nutrient.  I'm om Spiro and my Dr. told me to actually eat more stuff with K, especially if you're sweating heavily during the summer as I am in a house without air conditioning.  K will sweat out more than the filtering through the kidneys on Spiro.  I eat potatoes and other foods with high K and still manage a normal level in the bloodstream.  This depends on the person.  Some people will retain it more, therein lies the indication in the Spiro paper.  Just don't go ape on the bananas!  A few slices in a fruit salad will not hurt you. 
  Symptoms of high or low K: http://www.livestrong.com/article/294790-signs-symptoms-of-high-or-low-potassium/ (http://www.livestrong.com/article/294790-signs-symptoms-of-high-or-low-potassium/)
  Joelene 

Don't worry too much hun. As long as you are not taking potassium supplements or something like
low salt" you will be fine. 

There is very low risk of getting too much from the standard foods you eat. You don't need to get all selective. Eat whatever you want.

even on spiro i need to have an occasional banana to keep the leg cramps away

Just don't go overboard no those foods that contain high potassium.

Like Billie said an occasional banana isn't going to do anything.