Let’s Talk About Diets!

[Beth Gallagher]

Could there be a lot of potassium in your water supply? It seems unlikely in a municipal water supply, but who knows? You mentioned that you drink a lot of water. Bottled maybe?

I have no idea what "a lot" of potassium would be in the water supply. This is what the Harris County Water District says...

"According to recent water quality reports from local water districts in the area, such as Harris County FWSD 61, potassium levels in the local water supply range between 1.70 to 2.98 parts per million (ppm). Potassium is a naturally occurring element commonly found in silicate minerals like feldspars and clay. It is classified as a non-regulated secondary constituent, meaning there is no EPA health-based limit or maximum contaminant level goal for potassium in drinking water."

I also drink a lot of Ozarka bottled water which also has a very low concentration of potassium.

 

[Faye Fox]

It is common for older folks to have high kidney function numbers, because our kidney age with the rest of the body and don't filter out potassium like they once did, so it shows in the blood stream.

The old lower sodium thing only applies it you eat lots of fast processed foods daily that are loaded with sodium. It has little to do with adding salt to your food, things such as sprinkling a bit of sea salt on an egg or some on a tomato. That is a good thing!

The use of salt substitutes is a big no no for us older folks or for anyone told to lower sodium. These substitutes contain high potassium, so you just really unbalanced your electrolytes in a serious fashion. Our bodies need a certain amount of sodium.

The best way to reduce sodium, is reduce meal size and eat more meals. I basically snack all day and it regulates my electrolytes better than deprivation of a necessary ingredient.

The thing is all the diets with lower sodium, then lower potassium, lead to serious problems with our nerves and muscles. Lord knows we have enough problems with them, so why make it worse?

Have you ever thought why folks make these videos or write all these books on diet? It is a war on something and always changing. The war on protein is one of the worst ever. You see protein also applies to vegetables. It is all about money and being known. How do we know all these folks claiming to be doctors or diet experts, know anymore than we do?

As for me I will continue with my protein shake first thing in the morning, and continue snacking during the day. It is about "moderation and regulation, not deprivation." Hey that could be a rap number.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

I got my lab results back, and everything is looking good ! My eGFR went up more, so now it is up to 50, @Beth Gallagher . It was around 35 in April, 42 in May, so it is actually on a gradual improvement.
Except for my creatinine level, which was just a tiny bit higher than normal range, all the rest of my test results were in normal range this time. In April, it was 1.49, then went down in May to 1.33. This time it was 1.10, so slowly coming into better levels.
My BUN was 28 April, 26 May, now at 21, so it is better, too.

They did not do the tests for cholesterol and H1c, but everything on the metabolic panel was fine, and my thyroid was at 1.1 and was at 1.05 in May, so doing fine also.

So, I am going to keep on with the plant-based way of eating. Yesterday, we went to the Mexican restaurant that is near Home Depot. When we go out to eat, which is maybe every month or two, I just have what I want. Yesterday, I had the chile rellano, which has cheese, and came with rice and beans.

Bobby had the fajita (that always looks YUMMY to me !) and he shared some of his onions and pepper with me, so I actually had a lot of plant based foods except for the cheese sauce on the chili rellano.
I was still full the rest of the day, so just had a few green grapes last evening and no other meal.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

I just found this information online, and it looks like the plant-based diet can help with keeping gout away, too. I know that I have not felt any in my feet lately, so that is good.