Frequent Bathroom Trips – Diet’s Role/ Potassium Chloride Can Be Over-Used (draft)

Dear Dr. Meinig: I have been taking KCI for several years on account of high blood pressure, and eliminating NACl as much as possible. I never see in any medical journal or elsewhere, anything about the use of KCI one way or another. Please comment on the subject. Thank you, A.W.

 

Dear A.W.: Potassium chloride (KCI) is frequently prescribed when potassium is low, as after prolonged diarrhea or vomiting; with diuretics; or with adrenal steroid therapy. It has also been prescribed in the treatment of digitalis intoxication, as a diuretic, for muscular weakness, and for Méniére’s disease.

Potassium chloride does have some side effects. It often is an irritant to the stomach and intestines. Oral tablets may cause nausea, vomiting, pain or discomfort in the stomach or abdomen, and diarrhea. Enteric-coated tablets reduce such side effects, as does taking the KCI with a full glass of water. Enteric-coated tablets should not be taken if thiazide diuretics are also being used, as small bowel lesions can occur. If heart disease is present it should only be used under the direction of a physician.

While many have used KCI successfully, it can be toxic if overdoses are taken. Weakness, paralysis, listlessness, dizziness, mental confusion, heart irregularities, and even death can result from excessive amounts. Anyone experiencing unusual symptoms on normal doses should check with the doctor.

If the main reason for taking the KCl is to increase the amount of potassium, this can be achieved by eating foods high in potassium such as bananas, beans (dried or lima), caviar, dandelions, vegetables or vegetable juice, nuts, olives, parsnips, potatoes, spinach, wheat bran, sunflower seeds and flounder. Fruits and fruit juices are also high in potassium, but they cause problems in too many people for me to recommend them.

Potassium is a very important element, involved in cell activity in blood, heart, kidneys, nerves, muscles and skin. In the form of potassium chloride, it has been helpful in severe attacks of hypoglycemia, and in reducing high blood pressure as a substitute for salt. Many people use potassium chloride vegetable salt instead of regular table salt (NACl).

I am glad you wrote for information about KCl. While it can be bought over-the-counter and is a good source of potassium, it is important to know about the possible side effects from over-usage. Usually, we can derive enough potassium from foods, and this is better unless your doctor recommends additional amounts.

 

Dear Dr. Meinig: Just recently I have had to go [to] the bathroom frequently to urinate. I feel it isn’t anything serious and that something I may be eating is causing the trouble. I have had cystitis twice before, but that was painful while this is not, so I don’t think that is it. I would appreciate your views, as I am getting tired of these frequent bathroom trips, especially when I’m out and away from home. – P.I.

 

Dear P.I.: Your problem could very well be a nutritional one, but the first requirement is to eliminate specific or general infections and the possibility of diabetes, as these can all be causes of excessive urination (Frequent Micturition). In view of your lack of other symptoms, I can understand your reluctance to incur the expense of a doctor’s examination, but this is necessary to rule out the need for medical care.

Most people void urine 4 to 6 times during the day time. The bladder normally holds about one pint. This capacity may be reduced by swelling of the bladder, due to infection, injuries, kidney stones, foreign bodies or tumors. On the other hand, the bladder may be normal, but filling more rapidly, resulting in your problem.

Cystitis and some other infections are probably caused by bacteria introduced during intercourse, or when taking bubble or hot tub baths, or from careless wiping and cleansing after defecation; or if the urine is too alkaline for extended periods. It is a good idea for women to urinate after intercourse, as to some extent, this can flush the bacteria from the area.

Cystitis usually develops in women who have alkaline urine. The old-fashioned remedy of cranberry juice is helpful as the organic acid of this fruit cannot be completely digested and because of this, acidifies the urine, and makes the environment unsuitable for the bacteria that cause cystitis.

If there is no infection or other medical reason for the frequent urination, there are four possible nutritional approaches to this problem: (1) Urine could be too acid; (2) it could be too alkaline; (3) the body’s water balance is upset; or (4) the use of tea and/or coffee. Tea is often a bladder irritant, and coffee can be a diuretic.

Acid urine results when the food is mostly meat, fish, eggs, cottage cheese, butter, cream, fats, oils, milk, soft drinks, cream cheese, cranberries, beans, nuts, seeds and grain foods. People who have too little hydrochloric acid available in the stomach cannot completely digest some of the acid fruits, which then produce urine acidity.

However, fruit usually is the cause of an alkaline urine. When the diet is mostly made up of fruits and vegetables, with little meat, fish or eggs, the urine tends to become too alkaline. Also, poor liver function will often result in alkaline urine, even when plenty of the acid foods are used–because a poorly functioning liver cannot handle the elimination of acid wastes.

Water balance in the body can be upset and cause frequent urination if potassium intake is too high, as from drinking fruit and vegetable juices or eating too much fruit. Also, too little salt and too much fat and oil can upset the water balance in the body.

In summary: If frequent urination persists and has no medical cause, the first thing to do is to stop the use of tea, coffee and soft drinks. If this does not improve the condition, test the acidity or alkalinity of the urine. Nitrazine test papers for this purpose can be bought in the drug store. If the urine is quite acid, or quite alkaline, then follow the suggestions mentioned above, to balance your diet.

The understanding of how our daily selection of foods and beverages can cause unbalanced body chemistry, is a most important revelation, as many degenerative diseases result from our common eating habits, indulged in every day for months and years. Whatever form a person’s illness may take, a thoughtful approach that considers the possible connection between their favorite food and beverage choices and the suffering they are experiencing can result in decisions to alter dietary habits and produce changes that are REAL and that are exciting. The public is becoming more enlightened every day to the role they play in their own well being.