Packaged foods which have high contents of potassium

Chronic kidney disease is gradual loss of kidney function over the years Packaged foods which have high contents of potassium, sodium and phosphorous can adversely affect people suffering from diabetes or chronic kidney disease, say doctors. With more than 2,00,000 people in India suffering from renal failure every year, doctors say that consumption of processed foods, artificial fruit juices and foods high in cocoa can aggravate the condition of the patients, Times of India reported.

“Chronic kidney disease is gradual loss of kidney function over the years and intake of packaged foods can result in increase in potassium content in the body which can lead to heart failure,” Dr KC Prakash, senior consultant nephrologist at Apollo Hospitals told the newspaper.

According to Dr Prakash, people suffering from kidney disease or renal failure do not have the capacity of excrete potassium through their kidneys leading to accumulation of potassium in the body. Most packaged foods have high salt content and can cause swelling and water retention which is very harmful for patients whose kidney does not function to the best of its abilities.