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Low Potassium Diet Vs. Renal Diet

A low potassium diet and a renal diet are not necessarily at odds---a low-potassium diet is merely a subset of a renal diet in general. While a low potassium diet can stand alone as a nutritional strategy for individuals who are suffering from abnormally high levels of potassium in their body, a renal diet often contains (among other things) the recommendation that the dieter limit potassium to more fully remove excess workload from his or her kidneys.

  1. Low Potassium Diet

    • Following a strict low potassium diet is rather simple when compared to complying with a full-on renal diet. According to information posted on Stronghealth.com, while most foods contain some trace amounts of potassium, the overarching goal in a low potassium diet is to mainly avoid those foods which contain abnormally high levels of the substance. Since many fruits and vegetables contain potassium, a good general guideline is to limit consumption of fruits and veggies to no more than four servings per day (which is already more than most people consume, so this poses no real "restriction" to the average dieter). Additional foods to avoid that contain high levels of potassium include: avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, tangelos, apricots, oranges, cherries, chocolate, nuts, tomatoes, and potatoes.

    Renal Diet

    • Physicians often prescribe a renal diet to help patients who are suffering from reduced kidney function. According to information from the Division of Nephrology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, a renal diet not only incorporates the principles espoused in the low-potassium diet, but also takes things one step further with additional limitations to protein, sodium, and phosphorus intake. Consume no more than 40 to 60 g of protein per day, but be sure to come close to that ceiling, as the body requires protein to build and repair tissue. Limit consumption of items that have additional sodium added, like canned vegetables and processed foods. Finally, avoid foods that are high in phosphorus: cola drinks, peanut butter, nuts of all kinds, cheese, ice cream, and beer.

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