Low Protein Regime In Kidney Disease

Author: Karen Lennox Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

In this article, learn more about Low Protein Regime In Kidney Disease. What is urea and what does its accumulation lead to?.

After a diagnosis of kidney disease and a discussion of the course of treatment, the doctor will most likely prescribe strict adherence to a low-protein diet. What is it and why is it necessary for kidney problems?

When proteins , also called proteins , are taken in with food , the human body breaks them down in its digestive system, but releases a waste product of this breakdown: urea .

Urea is the total amount of urine nitrogen that is produced in the liver and is the result of the breakdown of the proteins and amino acids that make them up. Urea eliminates excess ammonia from the body (a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, a toxic product).

Various diseases associated with impaired renal function occur with increased urea: acute and chronic renal failure, urinary tract obstruction, severe dehydration - vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, severe trauma, inflammatory processes and tumors that are associated with tissue breakdown.

Removing urea from the body is a task for the kidneys, but when they do not function normally or are affected by disease , urea accumulates to toxic levels in the body and even enters the bloodstream .

By consuming minimal amounts of protein with food, the load on the kidneys is reduced and their recovery is accelerated. However, low-protein diets should not be started without consulting a doctor or dietitian .

For normal function, a healthy body needs a small amount of protein per day : 56 g for men and 46 g for women. The low-protein diet limits this daily dose to 0.6 g per 1 kg of body weight. An individual should consume no more than 45 g of 85 kg. If the disease is not severe, the dose can be increased to 0.75 g per kg of body weight, but this is done explicitly and only on the recommendation of the attending physician.

During a low-protein diet, the main source of energy for the body comes from complex carbohydrates and beneficial to the cardiovascular system mono- and polyunsaturated fats . The regime emphasizes fresh fruits, vegetables and multigrain foods, and high-protein products with red meat, milk, chicken, fish and more. have to be turned off almost completely. Pasta contains a moderate amount of protein - about 3 g per serving, but it is still recommended to limit them strongly.

An example of a low-protein day can start with a little oatmeal, but not with milk, but with water. For dessert - 1 - 2 bananas. Lunch can consist of a sandwich with wholemeal bread, a thin slice of turkey ham and fresh fruit or vegetables of your choice - tomato, cucumber, green pepper, avocado, olives. Dinner can include 40 - 50 g of white meat, white rice, stewed vegetables and juicy fruit - orange, grapefruit and more.

For snacks between main dishes can be consumed in small quantities only fruits and vegetables, fresh and in the form of salad.

Low Protein Regime In Kidney Disease

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