I LOVED all things potatoes. They were perfect in satiating my carbohydrate cravings. I would never say no to them whatever way they were cooked. Recipe books on potatoes graced my bookshelf. They are featured plentifully in Hainanese and Peranakan cuisine. From ABC soup to being stewed with meatballs or cooked in curry, I never got tired of eating them.
Even when the refrigerator was empty, there was always some potatoes in the larder. For a quick and filling meal, my wife would throw a couple of them into a pot of boiling water and then mash them together with milk, butter and a dash of pepper. They were appetising and filling to boot. We bought a potato press just for making this.
A few years ago, I experienced a persistent itch on my upper body and arms each time I had French fries from a popular fast food chain. Those are the only parts of me that still have full sensation. Antihistamines alleviated the symptoms partially. There were times when it got so bad that I would scratch until my skin bled.
That is not all, potatoes are high in potassium. This mineral is essential in regulating fluid, muscle and heart contractions, and nerve signal transmission in the body. Excess potassium is usually excreted through the kidneys. However, for people with kidney disease, potassium can build up to a dangerous level. This anomaly can cause fatigue, weakness of muscles, irregular heartbeat or even a heart attack.
Because of the allergic reaction and the need to go on a renal diet, I have stopped eating potatoes altogether. Scratching for hours at a time and still not finding relief was frustrating. Doing it when I was out in public places was embarrassing.
The abstinence was difficult at times, especially when the smell of French fries wafted through the air when I passed by fast food outlets or the sight of them at the mixed rice stalls when I was at my hungriest. It took a lot of willpower and reasoning with myself to stay away from them.
Other foods high in potassium include bananas, avocados, prunes, oranges, tomatoes, dried fruits, dairy products, and nuts. These were fruits I used to love but avoid now where possible. Once in a long while, I would indulge in some, mindful of the amount I ate to ensure I did not overload myself with too much potassium.
Potassium can be leached from vegetables by repeatedly cutting them into smaller pieces and soaking them in warm water for a few hours but that was too much work for my wife when she has many other household chores to tend to other than cooking. We usually go for foods lower in potassium like broccoli, eggplant, cabbage, and cauliflower.
Phosphorus is the other mineral in foods I try avoid as much as possible. It is present in all the cells in the body but can be found mainly in bones and teeth. Together with calcium, it is needed for building strong and healthy bones and teeth. A balanced amount of this mineral is also needed for growth, repair of cells, energy production, and pH regulation.
However, like potassium, too much of it can cause complications. The doctors, dieticians and nurses made it a point to remind me at every available opportunity to be mindful of my dietary phosphorus intake. Excess phosphorus is removed in healthy kidneys. When renal function is impaired, it accumulates in the body.
A high level of phosphorus pulls calcium out from the bones, weakening them. Other symptoms include muscle cramps, and tingling and numbness around the mouth and fingertips. It can also cause itchiness. I suspect the French fries had phosphorus additives that caused the reaction in me. I am seldom afflicted with the symptoms since I stopped eating them.
Phosphorus is found naturally in many foods, especially in protein-rich foods like meat, nuts, and dairy products. It is also added as a preservative to processed foods like cured meats and to enhance taste in dark colas and soft drinks.
A low-phosphorus diet can only do so much together with dialysis. To manage the phosphorus intake from my diet better, I chew one calcium carbonate tablet together with foods at every meal. The tablet is called a binder. It reduces the absorption of phosphorous in the intestine.
Other than dialysis and regular medical reviews, a strict adherence to the renal diet is crucial in maintaining good health in people with end stage renal disease. Keeping to a renal diet that is low in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus can be difficult when eating out. Those delicious foods are high in one or all of these minerals. I try anyway because deviating from it can be detrimental to my health. Thankfully, the electrolyte levels in my blood are still within normal ranges at the moment despite the severity of my kidney disease.