Whatever you eat has a direct impact on your kidneys. Therefore if you are diagnosed with kidney disease, you need to be vigilant about what you eat. It is because certain things can progress the damage. The treatment can help slow down the progress of kidney disease, but until now, no medicine can reverse the damage.
If you have kidney disease, you must get a customized diet plan from a nutritionist. They can help you in devising the right diet plan that is good and non-injurious to your kidneys. If you have kidney disease, you can get more advice from oladoc.com.
In this article, we will tell you the diet tips for patients with kidney disease- what they should eat and what they should not eat.
Limit Sodium Intake
Sodium is a mineral that retains water in your body, leading to increased blood pressure. When you have normal kidney function, your kidneys can get rid of excess sodium in your body. But when their functioning is declined, they can not get rid of excess sodium from your body. Therefore it causes your blood pressure to rise, which in turn can cause kidney damage.
If you have kidney disease or you are hypertensive, you must limit your daily salt intake. The symptoms of salt retention can be swollen ankles, shortness of breath, fluid build-up around the lungs, and increased blood pressure. You should make a goal of limiting sodium up to two grams per day.
You can get a high amount of sodium from processed and canned foods. Therefore you should avoid their intake. Instead, cook fresh food at home in which you can manage salt on your own.
Limit Calcium and Phosphorus
To keep your bones strong, you need enough calcium and phosphorus. However, your body keeps only the amount of phosphorus it requires. It excretes out the remaining portion through the kidneys.
If your kidneys are not working well, they can not get rid of excess phosphorus. Hence it leads to phosphorus build-up in your body, which can, in turn, put you at risk of developing heart disease.
Moreover, your calcium levels can drop. Due to this, your body pulls out calcium from your bones, leaving them weak and fragile- prone to fractures.
In the last stage of renal disease, your healthcare provider will ask you to limit the daily phosphorus intake up to 1000mg per day. For that, you will need to cut down on dairy products and meat, fish, and poultry.
Reduce Potassium Intake
Potassium is a mineral that performs various activities in your body. Normally, if you eat potassium-rich foods, your kidneys can excrete them. But when your kidneys do not work well, it can cause potassium accumulation in your body- a life-threatening condition that can even lead to arrhythmias.
Therefore with kidney disease, you need to limit the intake of potassium-rich foods. You can get ample amount of potassium in foods, such as:
- Bananas
- Dates
- Tomatoes
- Raw carrots
- Melons
- Green vegetables except for kales
Instead of these fruits and vegetables, you can eat the ones containing low potassium, such as:
- Apples
- Plums
- Pineapple
- Cranberry or its juice
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Peach
- ● Beans
- Cucumber
Conclusion
As your kidney disease progresses, your healthcare providers may ask you to cut down on protein intake too. So you will have to cut down on protein sources, such as eggs, chicken, and fish.
However, at every stage of kidney disease, you need to get an expert opinion from your healthcare provider. To get a customized diet plan according to your kidney health, you can visit the best dietician in Islamabad.