Are you a fan of black seed oil?
It's good for your heart, your brain, and even your libido. But here's something that may put a damper on those benefits: Black seed oil has been linked to high potassium levels in the body, which could be dangerous for people with kidney disease or who are on dialysis.
If you have kidney disease or are on dialysis, your doctor might recommend limiting certain foods because of their potassium content.
Potassium is an important electrolyte in the body, and a deficiency can affect how well your kidneys work. Potassium helps move other substances through the bloodstream and regulates fluid balance in cells. As with all nutrients, too much or too little can lead to health problems.
Potassium is a mineral found in many foods.
Potassium is an electrolyte that helps maintain the body's fluid balance. It does this by facilitating the movement of nutrients into cells and waste products out of them. Potassium also plays a role in nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and blood pressure regulation.
Potassium is found in many foods, including:
- Bananas
- Citrus fruits
- Potatoes
- Beans or peas (including soybean products)
It's important to control the amount of potassium in your diet because too much could put you at risk for a serious health problem called hyperkalemia, which is when the amount of potassium in your blood is above normal levels.
You may have heard that black seed oil is rich in thymoquinone, an antioxidant compound that's been linked to several health benefits. Unfortunately, this isn't enough to prevent hyperkalemia and kidney problems. It's important to control the amount of potassium in your diet because too much could put you at risk for a serious health problem called hyperkalemia, which is when the amount of potassium in your blood is above normal levels.
Hyperkalemia can cause muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting (which are common symptoms of black seed oil), abnormal heartbeat or heart rhythm abnormalities such as tachycardia (an abnormally fast heart rate) or bradycardia (a slow heart rate).
High potassium Symptoms
Levels in the body can cause muscle cramps, nausea, and an irregular heartbeat. Potassium is a mineral found in many foods. It helps regulate your heartbeat, balance acids and alkalis in your blood and keep calcium dissolved so that it doesn't build up inside your blood vessels. Potassium also helps nerves work properly and is important for the function of muscles, including those in the heart.
Too much potassium can be harmful because it causes hyperkalemia (HY-per-kah-LEE-mee-uh), which occurs when there is too much potassium in your blood. High levels of potassium can cause muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting as well as an irregular heartbeat that could lead to serious consequences if left untreated.
Black seed oil is rich in thymoquinone
It's true that black seed oil is rich in thymoquinone, an antioxidant compound that's been linked to several health benefits. Antioxidants are believed to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease by protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals. They also help fight inflammation, which can contribute to conditions like arthritis and asthma.
Thymoquinone may have more direct effects on your body than simply acting as an antioxidant; it seems to activate PPAR-gamma receptors (a type of protein found on some cells), which has been shown to increase fat burning in people with obesity. This could help you lose weight if you're exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, but there are no studies showing this effect for black seed oil specifically—so don't count on it for weight loss!
Black seeds have been linked to some health benefits but people with kidney disease should limit black seed intake due to high potassium levels.
Black seeds have been linked to some health benefits but people with kidney disease should limit black seed intake due to high potassium levels.
Black seeds are rich in thymoquinone, an antioxidant compound that has been linked to several health benefits including improving blood circulation and reducing blood pressure. However, consuming large amounts of black seed oil can cause kidney problems because it contains high amounts of potassium — up to 2,000 milligrams per tablespoon!
Conclusion
Black seed oil is one of those foods that's been touted as a miracle cure-all, but there's no evidence that it can cure any disease. In fact, black seeds contain high levels of potassium which could be harmful for people with kidney disease or on dialysis because they're already at risk for hyperkalemia (the build up of too much potassium in the body). If you have these conditions and want to take advantage of the benefits associated with black seed oil, talk to your doctor about how much is safe for you
