Low Potassium Meats for the Renal Diet

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Many kidney patients follow a renal diet to help control several aspects of their health. The renal diet consist of food choices that are low potassium. Fruits and vegetables are often the first in mind when thinking of potassium intake, however low potassium meats are to keep in mind as well.

Along with low potassium, the renal diet also consists of food choices that are low phosphorus, low sodium. Depending on what stage of chronic kidney disease you’re in you may follow a low or high protein diet. Following a renal diet ensures that you are able to maintain your health and not overwork the kidneys.

Potassium is an important aspect of the renal diet. Keeping your potassium intake low is important with low kidney function to help keep blood potassium levels at normal range since the kidneys aren’t able to excrete excess potassium.

Understanding Low Potassium Meats and Renal Health

Potassium helps regulate your heartbeat, improves bone density, plays a role in muscle contraction, and offsets sodiums harmful effects on blood pressure. 

The kidneys job is to keep the right amount of potassium in your body. When the kidneys don’t work properly they can’t regulate the amount of potassium in your blood. 

High levels of potassium can cause an irregular heartbeat and lead to the heart to stop working causing cardiac arrest. To little potassium can increase your blood pressure, decrease calcium in your bones, and increase the risk of kidney stones.

The Renal Diet: Considerations for Potassium, Protein, and Sodium

The Renal Diet can look differently for those with kidney disease. Nutritional needs depend on the stage of kidney disease they’re in or if receiving dialysis treatments.

Potassium 

Potassium is a mineral in various foods such as fruits, vegetables, meats, beverages. 

The recommendations for potassium intake vary between 3500-4500 mg per day. Whereas a low potassium diet is 2000mg per day.

It’s essential for those on dialysis receiving treatment 3 times a week to limit intake to 2,000 milligrams of potassium or less per day. 

High-potassium foods are: potatoes such as white potatoes, sweet potatoes, potato chips, french fries. Oranges, orange juice, bananas, kiwi, prunes melons- cantaloupe and honeydew, dairy products such as cows milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese. High potassium vegetables- cooked greens, spinach, avocado, tomatoes and tomato products. 

However, a person receiving frequent dialysis (5-6 days a week) may need to consume more potassium in their diet

For those with CKD not on dialysis, potassium requirements depends on the individuals needs and a low potassium diet may not be needed. A history of high potassium blood levels is also important to consider.

Protein

Protein needs vary widely for those with kidney failure as well. Dialysis patients will need a high protein diet while those not receiving dialysis treatments it’s recommended to follow a low protein diet. (1)

Sodium

Sodium content in low potassium meats will also need to be considered. A low sodium diet is less than 2,000mg per day. Many low potassium meats may be higher in sodium. Choosing meats that aren’t preseason, smoked or cured is a great way to ensure less sodium is in your food.

Low Potassium Meats: Options and Benefits

Who needs Low potassium meats?

If you’re on dialysis you likey are following a high protein diet and are told by your healthcare provider to consume meat coming from animal protein at least 3 times a day with each meal. This can pose a challenge to meet the required protein consumption while also limiting potassium in your diet. It will be important to choose low potassium meats to avoid high potassium levels. There are some meats that are higher in potassium than others.

Early stages of CKD (stages 1-2) patients can also consume animal proteins to meet their protein needs. People that are in this early stage don’t require as much protein as those receiving dialysis, so it’s important to pay close attention to portion sizes and work with a renal dietitian to find out how much protein is right for you.

When is Low potassium meats not recommended?

Those in later stages of CKD (stage 3-5) benefit from less animal proteins to help slow the progression of kidney disease.What is a low potassium food? Studies have shown that a plant-based protein sources and a lower protein diet can help maintain kidney function longer. Plant-based diet have less acid load that lowers metabolic acidosis in patient with CKD and potentially slow the progression of kidney disease. (2)

Low potassium meats

A low potassium food will have less than 200 mg of potassium per serving. Based on the standard serving size of 3 oz. for meat, we will use this across the comparison of all meat types and potassium content. 3 oz of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. With this in mind, there aren’t a lot of low potassium meats available.

Potassium Additives in Meat

Packaged foods that are reduced in sodium oftentimes contain potassium additives. One study showed that there is 44% more potassium in reduced sodium meats than the original counterparts. (3) This is true for other food products as well such as salt substitutes. 

Food additives are “any substance not normally consumed as a food in itself and not normally used as a characteristic ingredient of food, whether or not it has nutritive value”. (4). Its addition to food is for preservation, coloring, sweetening, stabilizing, flavor agent, and acidity regulator. 

If you’re following a low-potassium diet be sure to read the food labels and make sure there isn’t any added potassium such as

• potassium chloride 
• potassium benzoate
• potassium nitrite and nitrate
• potassium sorbate
• potassium propionate
• potassium citrate
• potassium di and triphosphate
• tetrapotassium diphosphate

Cooking Methods to Reduce Potassium

One study found that soaking meat for 5-10 minutes in hot water reduced the potassium in beef by 40-49%; chicken and fish by 30-39%. (5) More research  is needed to explore more cooking methods and the impact they have on potassium content of meat. 

Certain high potassium vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams and rutabagas can be boiled in water. One study found that boiling potatoes cut in cubes and shredded decreased the potassium levels by 50% and 75% respectively. (6)

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• Source: https://healthykidneynutrition.com/low-potassium-meats-for-the-renal-diet/