Potassium
Potassium for PKD
Potassium is useful for PKD Polycystic Kidney Disease. High sodium diets are detrimental. The ratio of potassium food sources should be four times the amount of sodium foods taken in daily. A high potassium diet has been shown to slow the growth the growth of kidney cysts and keep PKD kidneys functioning optimally.As our kidney functioning declines, our kidneys can no longer clear potassium from the body. Serum potassium rises. At this junction, many are advised to restrict potassium rich foods.
"Research findings have shown that cancer cells cannot live in a potassium rich environment. In the body, potassium plays a crucial function in fluid balance, the mechanism by which cells are nourished and cleansed. Potassium is a principle positively charged element in fluids inside the cells, while sodium is a principle positively charged element of fluids outside the cells. These two elements function like a pump. The rotation of the sodium single positive ions (Na+) and the potassium single positive ions (K+) in and out of the cell generates the electrical field, produced by the life process of the cell. The right balance is so important to the cells receiving nourishment, the removal of toxic wastes, maintaining correct blood pressure, removal of fluid retention, pain and disease."
"Dr. Max Gerson, in his many years research on cancer, believed that the starting point for all illness, cancer included, is the imbalance of sodium and potassium, usually too much sodium and too little potassium. This imbalance, he said, results in serious disturbances in the body chemistry for not only is potassium an important nerve conductor, it also acts as a catalyst to many body enzymes. Gerson said if we correct the balance by eating potassium-rich raw foods, which can invigorate and cleanse the body because they improve respiration at the cell level, we can mobilize the white blood cells which fight and destroy cancer cells." [Or mutating polycystic kidney cells] "Ideally, the food should be organically grown. In artificially fertilized food, the sodium content is higher and the potassium content is lower. Then when we cook food, most of the potassium is leeched out. Cooked and processed foods are often flavored with massive amounts of salt, causing excess sodium (which causes sodium to be drawn into the cells and potassium out). Antibiotics and other drugs, coffee, sugar, alcohol, and excess stress may cause an imbalance also. "
Reprinted by permission from Isabell Shipard, Shipards Herb Farm in Australia
- Potassium, besides being vital to the potassium/sodium balance in and around cells, is important to acid/alkaline balance and correct water balance.
- Potassium combines with iron to utilize oxygen to the cells and healthy heart action.
- Potassium is the major mineral for healing.
- Potassium is vital to muscular tissues and maintenance and repair, for muscle contraction, including contraction of the heart muscles, and the muscles involved with digestion. And considering we have 650 muscles which make up 40% of our body weight, it makes sense to feed them what they need, so they can hold us together well.
- Potassium normalizes heart action, and liver and lung functions.
- Potassium assists in elimination of blood impurities, and stimulates the kidneys to eliminate toxic wastes.
- Potassium is essential for digestion of carbohydrates and the liver's conversion of them to glucose as an energy source.
- Potassium promotes healthy skin, lubrication and feeding the sebaceous glands and mucus membranes.
- Potassium is essential to mental function, brain power, and nerve impulses.
- Potassium retards the aging process by improving blood and oxygen circulation
High Potassium Herbs and Foods
| catnip 2350 | chili 1350 | oats 648 |
| peppermint 2260 | rosemary 1340 | fig 640 |
| feverfew 2250 | chamomile 1320 | avocado 604 |
| carrot 2200 | mullein 1320 | horseradish 564 |
| scullcap 2180 | noni juice 1300 | taro 514 |
| grapevine 2018 | cornsilk 1220 | spinach 470 |
| leaves and stems | marshmallow 1210 | millet 430 |
| red clover 2000 | alfalfa 1200 | chicory 420 |
| peach 1940 | dandelion 1200 | potato skin 407 |
| ginger 1890 | garlic 1180 | wheat 390 |
| chickweed 1640 | licorice 1140 | plantain 385 |
| pineapple 1820 | pennyroyal 1050 | kale 378 |
| stevia 1780 | banana 1030 | pumpkin 340 |
| nettle 1750 | fenugreek 1020 | shallot 334 |
| orange 1700 | pigeon peas 981 | elderberry 300 |
| burdock 1680 | apricot 979 | celeriac 300 |
| comfrey 1590 | prunes 940 | cauliflower 295 |
| equisetum 1580 | sunflower seeds 920 | watercress 282 |
| lemon 1470 | NZ spinach 795 | asparagus 278 |
| onion 1380 | parsley 727 | macadamia nut 264 |
| capsicum 1350 | sesame seed 725 | lettuce 264 |
High Potassium Fruit
| apricots | 2 medium | 281 mg |
| avocado | 1/2 | 742 mg |
| banana | 1 small | 370 mg |
| breadfruit | 1/2 cup | 439 mg |
| cantaloupe | 1/2 melon | 825 mg |
| casaba | 1 wedge- 1/2 cup | 251 mg |
| coconut | 1/2 cup | 250 mg |
| dates | 10 medium | 648 mg |
| dried fruit | 1/2 cup | 500 mg |
| guava | 1 medium | 289 mg |
| honeydew | 1/4 small melon | 251 mg |
| kiwi fruit | 1/2 cup | 332 mg |
| kumquats | 5 or 6 | 236 mg |
| loquats | 1/2 cup | 348 mg |
| nectarine | 2 medium | 294 mg |
| orange | 1 medium | 300 mg |
| papaya | 1/2 medium | 351 mg |
| passion fruit | 1/2 cup | 348 mg |
| plums | 2 | 299 mg |
| persimmon | 1 medium | 310 mg |
| pomegranate | 1 medium | 259 mg |
| prunes | 4 | 329 mg |
| pumpkin | 1/2 cup | 300 mg |
| raisins | 1/2 cup | 542 mg |
| rhubarb | 1/2 cup | 271 mg |
| tangelo | 1 | 296 mg |
| tomato | 1 small | 244 mg |
High Potassium Juice
| coconut juice | 1/2 cup | 232 mg |
| grapefruit juice | 1/2 cup | 252 mg |
| orange juice | 1/2 cup | 248 mg |
| prune juice | 1/2 cup | 283 mg |
| tomato juice | 1/2 cup | 268 mg |
High Potassium Vegetables
| artichoke | 1 medium | 361 mg |
| avocado | 1/2 cup | 453 mg |
| bamboo shoots canned | 1/2 cup | 403 mg |
| beans navy cooked | 1/2 cup | 373 mg |
| beans kidney cook | 1/2 cup | 315 mg |
| beans lima cooked | 1/2 cup | 358 mg |
| beans blackeye cook | 1/2 cup | 286 mg |
| beet greens cooked | 1/2 cup | 240 mg |
| carrots raw | 1 | 246 mg |
| chard cooked | 1/2 cup | 246 mg |
| garbanzo chick peas | 1/2 cup | 797 mg |
| chocolate | 1/2 cup | 548 mg |
| collard cooked | 1/2 cup | 249 mg |
| corn | 1 ear | 300 mg |
| cress cooked | 1/2 cup | 238 mg |
| endive curly | 1/2 cup | 825 mg |
| lentils cooked | 1/2 cup | 249 mg |
| mustard greens cook | 1/2 cup | 276 mg |
| nuts | 1/2 cup | 380 mg |
| parsnips cooked | 1/2 cup | 294 mg |
| peas split cooked | 1/2 cup | 296 mg |
| potato baked | 1 medium | 844 mg |
| potato fries | 10 pieces | 427 mg |
| potato hashed brown | 1/2 cup | 368 mg |
| potato mashed whipped | 1/2 cup | 274 mg |
| potato chips | 10 pieces | 226 mg |
| pumpkin cooked | 1/2 cup | 294 mg |
| soybeans cooked | 1/2 cup | 486 mg |
| spinach cooked | 1/2 cup | 292 mg |
| squash winter cooked | 1/2 cup | 472 mg |
| sunflower seeds | 1/2 cup | 667 mg |
| sweet potato baked | 1 medium | 342 mg |
| tomato raw | 1 medium | 300 mg |
| tomato catsup | 1/2 cup | 432 mg |
| tomato catsup | 1 tablespoon | 54 mg |
| tomato juice | 1/2 cup | 276 mg |
| tomato paste | 1/2 cup | 1118 mg |
| tomato sauce | 1/2 cup | 460 mg |
| water chestnuts | 5 pieces | 349 mg |
High Potassium Misc
check labels for amounts| cola drinks | coffee | black strap molasses |
| pepsi | mountain dew | jazz |
| fanta | sprite | coca cola |
| tomatoes canned | spaghetti sauce | salsa |
| commercial lemonade | 8 ounces | 3 mg |
Some High Potassium Foods to be Avoided with PKD
[DIARY] All milk and dairy products[FRUITS] Chocolate, cacao, plums, prune juice, strawberries
[VEGETABLES] Eggplant, potatoes, peppers, soy, tomatoes
[MISC] Coffee, tea, cola, sodas
Restrict Potassium
There might be a time when our kidney function declines. At this time doctors may require us to restrict potassium foods. If your potassium is rising, perhaps now is the time to speak with your doctor about the possibility of trying essential amino acids formulated especially for kidney patients, eliminating all animal proteins, dropping your protein requirement to 0.3 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight; all outlined in Coping with Kidney disease by Dr. MacKensie Walser. One can possibly hold kidney functioning at its present level, without further decreases. It is important to correct anemia, maintain alkalinity with sodium citrate (not sodium bicarbonate), and have blood laboratory values checked frequently.
17,000 individuals in China are in clinical trials eliminating animal proteins, supplementing with essential amino acids (also called keto acids), ACE inhibitors to control blood pressure, maintaining alkalinity - preliminary results show a 90% decrease of proteins spilling in the urine and the serum albumin rose to a normal of 4.0. These are indications of arresting the downward progression of kidney decline. Some foods that are good for the kidneys:
Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes) - one the size of an egg once a week
Watermelon daily if in season
Broccoli daily for two weeks, then once or twice a week
Radish (5 a day)
Low Potassium Fruit
| apple | 1 medium | 165 mg |
| applesauce | 1/2 cup | 125 mg |
| blackberries | 1/2 cup | 123 mg |
| blueberries | 1/2 cup | 67 mg |
| boysenberries | 1/2 cup | 96 mg |
| raspberries | 1/2 cup | 149 mg |
| strawberries | 1/2 cup | 123 mg |
| cherries | 15 large | 191 mg |
| figs | 2 | 194 mg |
| fruit cocktail | 1/2 cup | 168 mg |
| grapefruit in a jar, bottled | 1/2 cup | 135 mg |
| grapes thompson | 1/2 cup | 110 mg |
| grapes purple | 1/2 cup | 139 mg |
| grapefruit | 1/2 raw | 171 mg |
| kumquat | 1 medium | 37 mg |
| lemon raw | 1 lemon | 80 mg |
| lime raw | 1 lime | 68 mg |
| lichees raw | 10 medium | 171 mg |
| mango | 1/2 medium | 189 mg |
| mandarin oranges canned | 1/2 cup | 83 mg |
| peach | 1 medium | 202 mg |
| pear | 1 medium | 213 mg |
| pineapple canned | 1/2 cup | 97 mg |
| plums raw prune type | 2 average | 115 mg |
| tangerine | 2 average | 126 mg |
| watermelon | 1/2 cup | 100 mg |
Low Potassium Fruit Juice
| apple juice | 1/2 cup | 125 mg |
| apricot nectar | 1/2 cup | 189 mg |
| cranberry juice cocktail | 1/2 cup | 12 mg |
| grape juice | 1/2 cup | 145 mg |
| peach nectar | 1/2 cup | 98 mg |
| pear nectar | 1/2 cup | 48 mg |
| pineapple juice | 1/2 cup | 190 mg |
| tangerine juice | 1/2 cup | 217 mg |
Low Potassium Vegetables
| asparagus | 1/2 cup | 132 mg |
| bean sprouts | 1/2 cup | 117 mg |
| beans green snap | 1/2 cup | 94 mg |
| beets | 1/2 cup | 177 mg |
| broccoli | 3 spears 1/2 cup | 196 mg |
| brussel sprouts | 4 pieces | 212 mg |
| cabbage raw | 1/2 cup | 82 mg |
| Chinese cabbage raw | 1/2 cup | 95 mg |
| bok choy raw | 1/2 cup | 107 mg |
| carrots cooked | 1/2 cup | 172 mg |
| cauliflower raw | 1/2 cup | 147 mg |
| celery | 1/2 cup | 204 mg |
| chicory | 1/2 cup | 82 mg |
| chives | 1/2 cup | 64 mg |
| corn cooked canned | 1/2 cup | 152 mg |
| cucumbers | 1/2 cup | 84 mg |
| dandelion greens cooked | 1/2 cup | 122 mg |
| eggplant cooked | 1/2 cup | 15 0 mg |
| jicama raw | 1/2 cup | 175 mg |
| kohlrabi cooked | 1/2 cup | 214 mg |
| lettuce raw | 1/2 cup | 48 mg |
| lichees canned | 10 | 153 mg |
| mushrooms | 1/2 cup | 145 mg |
| olives (loaded with sodium) | 10 | 36 mg |
| onion green | 1/2 cup | 112 mg |
| onion yellow | 1/2 cup | 134 mg |
| parsley | 1 sprig | 8 mg |
| peas green | 1/2 cup | 157 mg |
| peppers green | 1/2 cup | 160 mg |
| poi | 1/2 cup | 220 mg |
| radishes | 1/2 cup | 185 mg |
| rutabagas cooked | 1/2 cup | 142 mg |
| spinach raw | 1/2 cup | 130 mg |
| squash summer | 1/2 cup | 127 mg |
| turnips | 1/2 cup | 145 mg |
| turnip greens | 1/2 cup | 116 mg |
| mixed canned veg | 1/2 cup | 175 mg |