Dante Carrillo
A renal or kidney diet is often recommended for those with kidney disease to slow its progression and improve overall health. The diet typically involves reducing sodium, phosphorus, and protein intake, while increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables and healthy fish. It is important to consult with a healthcare provider and dietitian to determine the appropriate time to start a kidney diet and create a personalized plan, as the required protein and potassium intake may vary depending on the stage of kidney disease. Early adoption of a kidney diet can help maintain kidney function and prevent further damage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Slow kidney damage and improve overall health |
| Who should follow it | Anyone with kidney disease |
| Diet | Low in sodium, phosphorus, potassium, and protein |
| Potassium | Limit foods that are high in potassium |
| Milk and dairy products | Limit to 8 oz per day |
| Fruits and vegetables | Choose fresh fruits and vegetables |
| Salt | Avoid salt substitutes and seasonings with potassium |
| Packaged foods | Read labels and avoid potassium chloride |
| Serving size | Pay close attention to serving size |
| Food journal | Keep a food journal |
| Protein | Eat smaller portions of foods that are high in protein at meals and for snacks |
| Phosphorus | Eat smaller portions of foods that are high in phosphorus |
| Fluids | Limit fluids |
| Calcium | Limit calcium |
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What You'll Learn
Limit salt and sodium intake
If you have kidney disease, limiting your salt and sodium intake can be crucial. While sodium is a mineral that the body needs to function properly, consuming too much can negatively affect your health, especially if your kidneys are not functioning correctly. This is because sodium helps control fluid levels and blood pressure in the body.
A renal diet, or kidney diet, is often recommended for those with kidney disease to help slow kidney damage and improve overall health. As part of this diet, it is generally advised to limit sodium intake to less than 2,400 mg per day. This can be achieved by reducing the amount of salt used in cooking and at the table, as well as being mindful of hidden sources of sodium in processed foods. For example, many poultry products are soaked in a saltwater solution, resulting in higher sodium content. Therefore, it is important to read ingredient labels and look for products without added salt or sodium.
Additionally, salt substitutes should be used with caution as they can be high in potassium, which can also build up in the blood due to reduced kidney function. It is always best to check with your healthcare provider before using salt substitutes and to ensure your potassium levels are within a healthy range.
By limiting salt and sodium intake, individuals with kidney disease can help manage their blood pressure and slow the progression of kidney damage. It is important to work closely with a registered renal dietitian to develop a personalized renal diet plan that includes guidance on limiting salt and sodium intake, as well as other dietary modifications.
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Reduce protein consumption
While protein is essential for building muscle, healing, and fighting infection, reducing protein consumption is a key component of a kidney-friendly diet. This is because when the body uses protein, it produces waste, which the kidneys must then filter out. If the kidneys are not functioning well, this waste can build up in the blood, causing nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weakness, and changes in taste.
Several studies have found a strong association between high animal protein intake, especially processed red meat, and the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Substituting red meat with plant-based proteins like legumes has been linked to a significantly reduced risk of CKD. Plant-based proteins are also lower in saturated fat and high in fibre.
If you have kidney disease, it is important to consult a doctor or dietitian before reducing your protein intake, as protein needs vary depending on your age, sex, and overall health. A low-protein diet requires careful planning to avoid nutritional deficiencies and other health issues, such as muscle loss and poor immune function. For example, older adults may need extra protein due to age-related muscle wastage. Your doctor may also recommend certain supplements, such as vitamin B12, which is mainly found in animal products.
To reduce protein consumption, it is recommended to make vegetables and grains the main components of meals, with meat, pulses, and soy products as side dishes or condiments. Small portions of protein-rich foods, such as 2-3 ounces of chicken, fish, or meat, or 1/2 cup of beans, are generally considered appropriate. It is also beneficial to limit processed foods and those with added phosphorus, as high phosphorus levels can contribute to bone and joint problems.
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Manage potassium levels
If you have kidney disease, your kidneys don't regulate potassium efficiently, which can cause a dangerous build-up of potassium in your blood. This can lead to serious heart problems. Your doctor will regularly monitor your potassium levels through blood tests. Depending on your kidney health, you may be able to include small amounts of foods higher in potassium in your diet.
There are several ways to manage your potassium levels through your diet. Firstly, it is important to be aware of which foods are high and low in potassium. Low potassium fruits and vegetables include berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Foods that are high in potassium include salt substitutes, canned fruits and vegetables, meat juices, and some medicines.
Secondly, limit your consumption of high-potassium foods. You can also reduce the potassium content of some foods by leaching. This involves pulling some of the potassium out of the food. For example, you can leach high-potassium vegetables by soaking them in warm unsalted water for a minimum of two hours, using ten times the amount of water to the amount of vegetable. You can also boil starchy foods, such as potatoes and pasta, before consumption to help lower potassium levels.
Finally, portion control is important. Even low-potassium foods may spike your levels if you eat too much. Foods are considered low in potassium if they contain 200 milligrams (mg) or less per serving. If you are on a potassium-restricted diet, you will usually need to keep your potassium intake below 2,000 mg daily.
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Lower phosphorus intake
If you have kidney disease, you may need to change your diet to slow kidney damage and improve your overall health. A renal diet, or kidney diet, is often low in sodium, phosphorus, and sometimes potassium and protein.
Phosphorus is a mineral found in your bones. Along with calcium, phosphorus is needed to build strong, healthy bones and keep other parts of your body healthy. When you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), your kidneys cannot remove phosphorus from your blood effectively. High phosphorus levels can cause damage to your body by pulling calcium out of your bones, making them weak and more likely to break. High phosphorus and calcium levels also lead to dangerous calcium deposits in your blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and heart.
To lower your phosphorus intake, it is important to read the labels of all the food items you buy. Look for ingredients with "phosphate" or "phos" in their names, such as phosphoric acid, sodium aluminum phosphate, pyrophosphate, polyphosphates, and calcium phosphate. When you find them, you should avoid or limit those foods. Many packaged foods have added phosphorus, and deli meats and some fresh meat and poultry can also have added phosphorus.
Your doctor may also prescribe a medicine called a phosphate binder for you to take with meals and snacks. This medicine will help control the amount of phosphorus your body absorbs from the food you eat. There are many different kinds of phosphate binders, including pills, chewable tablets, powders, and liquids. Some types also contain calcium, while others do not. You should only take the phosphate binder that is ordered by your doctor or dietitian.
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Combine with other diets
A renal or kidney diet is often combined with a diabetic and/or heart-healthy diet to help manage blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol. This is because kidney disease can occur alongside other conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
For instance, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, and nuts, has been recommended by the National Kidney Foundation for kidney disease patients. The DASH Diet is also a recognised treatment for hypertension and heart disease.
If you have kidney disease, it is important to consult a dietitian to create a meal plan that is tailored to your needs. They can help you coordinate diet decisions to meet the conditions you are trying to improve or prolong. For example, a renal diet typically involves cutting down on protein, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium, and limiting fluids. However, the recommended amount of protein differs depending on the stage of kidney disease. People with early kidney disease may need to decrease their protein intake, whereas those on dialysis may need to increase it.
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Frequently asked questions
A renal diet is a diet that is often low in sodium, phosphorus, and sometimes potassium and protein. It emphasizes the importance of consuming high-quality protein and usually involves limiting fluids. It is designed to slow the progression of kidney disease.
If you have been diagnosed with any type of kidney disease, your doctor may recommend a renal diet. It is important to start a kidney diet as soon as possible to help maintain kidney function and slow the progression of the disease.
Some tips for starting a kidney diet include increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, reducing your consumption of processed and packaged foods, and working with a dietitian to create a personalized meal plan that takes into account your specific health needs and conditions.
