The Best Ways to Supplement Potassium & Magnesium Loss From Diuretics

Prescribing diuretics or water pills is normal procedure for a doctor who has a patient suffering from high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, some liver and kidney conditions or for those patients who retain water. Sometimes these diuretics can cause a loss of important minerals necessary for our bodies to thrive such as magnesium and potassium. There are ways to supplement the loss of these important nutrients.

Supplements and Medications

• If potassium loss is a problem for you, your doctor may prescribe drugs such as Aldactone, Inspra and Dyrenium, which spare the potassium when using these diuretics.

  If you are suffering from high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme that are called ACE inhibitors. These medications typically increase potassium levels in the bloodstream according to the mayoclinic.com website.

  Magnesium supplements may be the answer to the loss of this important mineral. A dosage of 300 to 600 mg per day is the typical treatment according to the University of California at San Diego website.

  The dosage for a potassium supplement is 2,000 mg per day, but you should not take one unless advised by a physician familiar with your medical history according to the University of Maryland Medical Center website.

Magnesium and Potassium Rich-Foods

• Bananas are high in potassium so many people who take diuretics eat one daily but this practice can get monotonous. Other potassium rich foods are orange juice, dried fruits, vegetables such as tomatoes, spinach and beets and fruits such as strawberries, watermelon and cantaloupe.

  Some magnesium rich foods are halibut, nuts, spinach, peanut butter, beans, black-eyed peas, yogurt, avocados and bananas.

Considerations

• Keep in mind that too much potassium can be just as dangerous as too little, so consult your doctor about the proper amount you need for optimal health.

  Coffee and tea can be natural diuretics so let your doctor know if you drink many of these beverages.

  Getting too much calcium in your diet may decrease the magnesium your body absorbs. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor.