In people with healthy kidneys, potassium is a healthy part of a balanced diet. It is an important mineral found in many fruits and vegetables and it may not even be something many people think about. Unfortunately, for those suffering from chronic kidney disease, CKD, not only do they have to think about this, they have to keep their potassium levels low. A person with healthy kidneys can process the potassium properly as the body will be able to regulate it and get rid of the excess.

Serving as filters for the blood where toxins and waste are removes and then expelled from the body through urine. Those who suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD) have suffered damage to their kidneys and they are no longer able to process this blood. If they can, it is at greatly reduced levels and not enough for a healthy life.

If the kidneys are not able to process blood, the toxins and wastes build up in the blood. Damage to organs follows and eventually death. A low potassium diet, however means a person may be deficient in many important nutrients which will only make their situation worse. There may be some help in the form of microgreens, an emerging raw salad crop.

Microgreens are young vegetables which are very concentrated in nutrients. They are typically harvested 1-3 weeks after planting. Some believe they are pound for pound much more nutritious than regular vegetables. Researchers in Italy decided to try enhancing them, soaking them in a low potassium hydroponic solution to see if they could create low potassium microgreens.

Plants do need potassium to grow, however, and the purpose of this experiment was to find the lowest level possible. They grew chicory and lettuce in three different solutions, one with no potassium, one in a moderate amount and one with a higher potassium amount.

The research was pretty encouraging with microgreens growing to similar height, weight and color at all levels of potassium. Reducing the potassium did not seem to alter the levels of nutrients and the low potassium method did reduce potassium levels by 50%. If you want more info about potassium level management, be sure to follow us on Pinterest.