Posted on 04/12/2024 12:23:43 PM PDT by Red Badger
14% of American adults are affected by chronic kidney disease – and anyone in that category should be very careful about how much watermelon they eat. A new series of case studies examines how a favorite fruit can cause life-threatening issues. There’s nothing quite as refreshing as a slurpy bite of watermelon on a hot day. With the US watermelon season fast approaching, many are looking forward to eating the naturally sweet fruit. And because watermelon is made up of 92% water, nothing in it can cause health problems, right? Not quite.
A collection of three case studies recently published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine has identified an under-recognized problem: watermelon contains a surprising amount of potassium. Ordinarily, this wouldn’t cause a problem, but it certainly can be for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition that affects an estimated 35.5 million US adults – about 14% of the population.
In chronic kidney disease, the kidney can't effectively filter waste and water out of the blood In chronic kidney disease, the kidney can't effectively filter of the bloodDepositphotos CKD refers to all conditions that affect the kidney’s ability to filter blood and remove waste. As many as 9 out of 10 people with CKD don’t know they have it because it’s most often diagnosed at more advanced stages when symptoms become more apparent.
Why is potassium important, and why is high potassium bad?
Potassium is necessary for the normal functioning of all cells. It regulates the heartbeat, ensures that muscles contract and nerves function properly, and regulates fluid levels inside the cells.
A typical blood potassium level for adults is between 3.6 and 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). A potassium level below 3.5 mmol/L is considered low (hypokalemia), and above 5.5 mmol/L high (hyperkalemia).
(Excerpt) Read more at newatlas.com ...
Oh it’s very good. Always had it on the menu for thanksgiving dinner
Hope you enjoy. I love em
Sounds good but not enough to make you want to relocate, right?????
I usually put a sprinkle of salt on watermelon, or eat a bowl of salted popcorn with watermelon. Salt balances out potassium; but I didn’t know why I was doing it until reading this article.
$1.34/lb Walmart...
I always check in the dim hope that some hearts may have accidentally arrived but those all go to Japan now.
Sprinkle a little salt on it.
Thank you!
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