Nutrition Tips For Kidney Disease

Author: Nia Rouseberg Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

In this article, learn more about Nutrition Tips For Kidney Disease. The kidneys play a major role in water-electrolyte balance..

Kidney-related diets aim to supplement therapy for faster recovery, sparing kidney function, and preventing possible complications. In contrast to diets for weight loss, in those for therapeutic purposes it is important to strictly follow the recommendations and monitor certain blood parameters , the values of which reflect changes in renal function.

The kidneys, along with the sweat glands and lungs, are key components in maintaining the body's water-electrolyte balance. In kidney disease and depending on its stage of development, the function of regulating water-salt homeostasis is reduced .

Glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the kidneys and in particular of their main functional units - the glomeruli. While most acute forms with appropriate therapy are completely treatable, chronic ones are one of the causes of renal failure and dialysis patients.

In glomerulonephritis, a significant reduction in daily salt intake is recommended. The reason is that excess sodium retains water in the body and causes swelling , which in glomerulonephritis is one of the main symptoms of the disease. It is also necessary to reduce the amount of added salt when preparing the food itself.

High content of added salt is found in pickles, cheese, soy sauce, various sausages, snacks, chips and others. As for water consumption, too, should not be overdone. With normal kidney function, the daily recommended amount of water is calculated by multiplying the kilograms of body weight by 30 ml. However, in kidney disease, the amount of urine excreted is important in determining the daily water intake.

The kidneys are responsible for the regulation of porcelain and the elimination of excess amounts from the body. In case of impaired renal function, an increase in the phosphorus content in the blood is possible - hyperphosphatemia . A diet low in phosphorus is prescribed - it is recommended to limit the consumption of cheese, some types of nuts - sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, seafood, soy foods and others.

In the acute phase of glomerulonephritis, it is necessary to limit the consumption of protein-rich foods . To ensure optimal energy needs, the intake of carbohydrates is increased - wholemeal bread, rice, potatoes. Meat, dairy products, legumes (beans, lentils, beans), seafood and others are rich in protein.

The kidneys are responsible for maintaining a certain level of potassium in the body. Its increased amount in kidney disease indicates its reduced excretion from the body. It is recommended to limit some foods that are rich in potassium - bananas, avocados, some dried fruits (raisins, apricots, prunes), mushrooms, spinach and others.

In advanced (advanced) kidney disease, a decrease in appetite is often observed. In these cases, it is recommended to eat several times - 5 or 6 times a day in small portions. An increase in appetite is often seen after starting dialysis.

In patients starting dialysis treatment, an increase in protein intake is required.

In kidney stones (urolithiasis), diet is also important. If there is a tendency to form urate stones , recommendations are given to reduce the consumption of meat at the expense of food of plant origin. Mushrooms and legumes are limited from the menu. Alcohol (particularly its breakdown products) irritates the urinary tract and is associated with the formation of oxalate stones. Black tea, caffeine, cocoa and spinach have alcohol-like properties. 3689

Nutrition Tips For Kidney Disease

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