Q: dear mds: although my daily diet is > 5000 mg of k rich food/fruits, my k is <3.4. by how much would 12.5 mg diuretic (hctz) decrease potassium level?

Can be significant: HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide) can certainly do this! Also contributing can be subtle things like diuretic effects of alcohol or caffeine, even large amounts of licorice! Some forms of hypertension are associated with low K to begin with ("hyper aldosterone states") and are very sensitive to even low doses of HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide).

Q: does your potassium have to be mild or moderately low to have bad leg cramps throughout the day? my doctor is not open to call. im trying to eat a lot of fruits and veggies like broccoli to help and it has eased symptom of cramping some still

Leg cramps: Sometimes the serum potassium can be normal but the intracellular potassium( we can't test for this)may be low. Other causes of recurrent or frequent leg cramps are deficiencies of calcium and magnesium. Your pharmacist can recommend a magnesium supplement to try. If no improvement, get blood tests.

Question 1

what are non-sweat fruits or vegetables that provide a good source of potassium?

Accepted Answer

Potassium sources: Foods that contain potassium are quite common. Among them are white beans, dark leafy vegetables such as spinach. Other food are baked potatoes with skin, mushrooms, nuts, chocolate and salmon.

Question 2

do fruit smoothies all contain potassium?

Accepted Answer

Fruit : Many fruits contain potassium. Fruit smoothies will have potassium if the fruit that is used is one of these. Potassium is not added to smoothies in any extra way.

Question 3

i have been on a medically prescribed wt loss program for 7 months. my potassium was 5.6 last week and 5.4 two months ago. will drinks containing potassium such as crystal light keep my levels up?  i am eating salads and some fruit as well. i do not use s

Accepted Answer

Sometimes: High potassium foods can continue the potassium problem but high potassium means that the kidneys are not handling the potassium load. Hypertension meds such as ACE inhibitors ("prils") and potassium sparing diuretics can inhibit potassium excretion by the kidneys. Kidney disease along with high blood acid levels can have the same problem. Check with your doctor and perhaps a nephrologist for why!

Question 4

i lost 100lbs, i exercise daily, i eat 70% raw fruit + veggies. avg. sodium is 2.3g, potassium 4.5g. my bp is 134/68. where could i be going wrong?

Accepted Answer

You're doing fine...: You have made excellent progress towards a more healthy lifestyle. Why do you think something may be going wrong?  If you had high blood pressire it is now normal.  What is your weight goal?  Good idea to take a multivitamin, omega 3 oil and vitamin d=3 and b-12.  Be sure you continue to follow up with your physician, continue your weight loss/exercise, and please don't get discouraged!

Question 5

regarding dried fruit, i thought raisins and prunes don't need preservatives. my last package of prunes had potassium sorbate. why is that needed?

Accepted Answer

Preservative: Potassium sorbate is a natural preservative that serves basically the same function as sulfites.  It is also used as a flavor enhancer in baby food.  Like sulfates, it is "generally regarded as safe" by the fda.

Question 6

i had a blood test and my potassium was 3.4. i had fasted for 13+ hours for test. is this normal for fasted state (potassium lower). my diet is low in fruits and veg. i dont like veg. fruits ok. how much potassium should i eat a day?

Accepted Answer

Fruit: All laboratory results need to be interpreted in the clinical context and the doctor who ordered the tests is usually in the best position to do that. Talk to the doctor who ordered the tests. Having said that, just drink some fruit juice, like orange juice or eat a few bananas.

Question 7

crave to eat lot of potassium rich fruits daily(5 bananas, pineapple, sweet potato, spinach, apricot), yet my k level is 3.6.is this kidney issue. what ?

Accepted Answer

Normal: A potassium of 3.6 is normal. Don't worry about it. Your kidneys excrete the excess potassium.

Question 8

trying to add fruits to my diet.  i take 6.25 mg of coreg(carvedilol) twice a day. ive heard beta blockers like coreg can affect potassium levels. is it safe for me to eat a banana(and the potassium within it) while on coreg?

Accepted Answer

Beta blockers: The class of meds called beta blockers like Coreg block receptors (beta receptors) primarily in the cardiac system but do not affect the function of the kidney by causing you to lose potassium. Adding fruits to your diet is a good overall health addition but you do not need to be concerned about the Coreg causing you to lose potassium. Diuretics like Lasix or HCTZ will cause low potassium.

Question 9

dear mds: although my daily diet is > 5000 mg of k rich food/fruits, my k is <3.4. by how much would 12.5 mg diuretic (hctz)  decrease potassium level?

Accepted Answer

Can be significant: HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide) can certainly do this! Also contributing can be subtle things like diuretic effects of alcohol or caffeine, even large amounts of licorice! Some forms of hypertension are associated with low K to begin with ("hyper aldosterone states") and are very sensitive to even low doses of HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide).

Question 10

does your potassium have to be mild or moderately low to have bad leg cramps throughout the day? my doctor is not open to call. im trying to eat a lot of fruits and veggies like broccoli to help and it has eased symptom of cramping some  still

Accepted Answer

Leg cramps: Sometimes the serum potassium can be normal but the intracellular potassium( we can't test for this)may be low. Other causes of recurrent or frequent leg cramps are deficiencies of calcium and magnesium. Your pharmacist can recommend a magnesium supplement to try. If no improvement, get blood tests.

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Doctor answers about:

What fruit or vegetable has the most potassium

A member asked:

What are non-sweat fruits or vegetables that provide a good source of potassium?

A member asked:

Do fruit smoothies all contain potassium?

A member asked:

I have been on a medically prescribed wt loss program for 7 months. my potassium was 5.6 last week and 5.4 two months ago. will drinks containing potassium such as crystal light keep my levels up? i am eating salads and some fruit as well. i do not use s

A member asked:

I lost 100lbs, i exercise daily, i eat 70% raw fruit + veggies. avg. sodium is 2.3g, potassium 4.5g. my bp is 134/68. where could i be going wrong?

A member asked:

Regarding dried fruit, i thought raisins and prunes don't need preservatives. my last package of prunes had potassium sorbate. why is that needed?

A member asked:

I had a blood test and my potassium was 3.4. i had fasted for 13+ hours for test. is this normal for fasted state (potassium lower). my diet is low in fruits and veg. i dont like veg. fruits ok. how much potassium should i eat a day?

A member asked:

Crave to eat lot of potassium rich fruits daily(5 bananas, pineapple, sweet potato, spinach, apricot), yet my k level is 3.6.is this kidney issue. what ?

A member asked:

Trying to add fruits to my diet. i take 6.25 mg of coreg(carvedilol) twice a day. ive heard beta blockers like coreg can affect potassium levels. is it safe for me to eat a banana(and the potassium within it) while on coreg?

A member asked:

Dear mds: although my daily diet is > 5000 mg of k rich food/fruits, my k is <3.4. by how much would 12.5 mg diuretic (hctz) decrease potassium level?

A member asked:

Does your potassium have to be mild or moderately low to have bad leg cramps throughout the day? my doctor is not open to call. im trying to eat a lot of fruits and veggies like broccoli to help and it has eased symptom of cramping some still

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